Make your party go with a bang

Unless you managed to buy your property before prices went higher than a particularly effective rocket, the chances are you've got a garden barely big enough to wave a sparkler.

In which case, your best bet is to head for one of the dozens of public organised displays (see 'Where to catch the fireworks'). They're fun, cheap to attend and have good safety records.

However, if you're one of those smug gits who bought a Victorian mansion in Crouch End with a park for a garden for about £20 in 1972, you'll no doubt want to rub your friends' noses in it even further by holding your own display.

If so, good luck to you and the best of British. Just bear in mind two things. Keep safe. And no one likes a show-off.

Setting up
Commonsense and safety are the keywords. Firstly, make sure your garden is big enough to host a display. For large, single ignition (semi-professional) displays, allow a clearance of at least 25 metres or 70 feet.

For smaller, private affairs, follow manufacturers' instructions and keep as much space between the fireworks and the spectators as possible, preferably with spectators behind a rope.

Take into account wind direction and make sure it's blowing away from spectators. Watch out for overhead obstructions, such as overhanging branches or power lines - these could lie in the path of some types of firework and cause them to deflect.

Bear in mind the law of gravity - what goes up has to land somewhere and your neighbours may not thank you for a pile of smouldering firework casing on their prize begonias.

Appoint one or two people as responsible for lighting the fireworks and make sure everyone else stays well back. If there are going to be children at your party, be clear as to who will be responsible for them - be aware of where they might be at all times.

See 'The Firework Safety Code' below. On a serious note, it's important to remember that last year, there were 972 firework-related accidents, of which two resulted in deaths. Almost half of these occurred at private and family displays so make safety paramount.