I would love to have a few words with whoever has just set off fireworks about 200m from my home waking up my children. Why do they do it ; surely these things are expensive and the date not significant? Unless its Thanksgiving USA?

Not Thanksgiving - that was last Thursday - and fireworks aren't a traditional part of it.

Suspect it's more likely to be a birthday or family anniversary and since it's the end of November, someone's stashed a few since Guy Fawkes to celebrate with.

Isn't it now illegal to set them off after 11pm?

Somewhat difficult to enforce though.