A life-long bird keeper has issued an impassioned plea for people to stop setting off fireworks during Clap for Carers after watching one of his pets die.

Mark Isaacs, 52, has been keeping birds since he was 10 years old.

This particular one he'd had for around a year.

"She came with four others from a small bird garden in Chichester that was closing down and was looking for homes for various birds," he told the Gazette.

"So I took all five."

But in recent weeks he has been growing increasingly frustrated as the sounds of fireworks at 8pm on Thursdays continues to grow.

I always go out to see the birds at 8pm because of the fireworks," he told the Gazette.

"Somehow I think my presence will help reassure them."

But this Thursday a firework so set off so close to his house in Grove Road that it even made the lorry driver "jump out of his skin".

Worst of all, one of his cockatiels died of what Mark can only assume was a heart attack brought about sound of fireworks.

"I picked her up and she died in my hand," he added.

"As for the people who set fireworks off, I think they’re just thoughtless.

"They have no concept the damage they can and do cause. I just wish they wouldn’t do it really and wish shops would stop selling them all year round... to be honest I wish they’d stop selling them altogether."

At the moment, it is only against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except on certain occasions.

The law adds that you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.