Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page, written for young people by young people. If you would like to write article for Voices, please email alex.cutler@dorsetecho.co.uk

A NIGHT of celebrations isn’t the same for everyone.

Bonfire night has been and gone and of course being able to marvel at the bursts of vibrant colour that illuminate the sky is an experience that most people love, but our enjoyment should not come at the fear of others.

Every year as this time comes around, there are veterans out there who are affected by the loud bangs that sound like bombs and machine guns that echo through the air and smells of fireworks that trigger memories of war.

Andy Price, founder of the Veterans hub said: “It doesn’t bother me, but it affects people in different ways. One person I know went away on holiday because they go through hell as it effects them mentally.”

He added that when the veterans get together, or even go to birthday parties that “we have to ask if there’s balloons so they don’t go bang.”

He encourages his fellow veterans to “try and remember where you are and ground yourself and to remember that you’re surrounded by family.”

Another veteran said: “It brings back feelings of terror, fear and fright. Your heart races, your eyes dart here and the panic sets in. You can prepare for organised events but not when you get out of your car and random bangs are going off behind you, close but not seen.”

A lot of the time it’s the build up and aftermath that are the worst. On bonfire night, people can expect the fireworks, but when they’re set off randomly, there is no time to prepare.

Last year more than 300,000 people signed a petition to stop retailers from selling fireworks to protect animals, children and people with a phobia.

The supermarket chain Sainsbury’s recently took a step to ban the sale of fireworks from all 2,300 of its UK stores.

Hollie Carr