BONFIRE night is normally a time for fun and fireworks but for pooches across the town it can be the most terrifying night of the year.

This year there could be a solution for stressed out owners and their pets because a special radio show has been commissioned by Classic FM to broadcast soothing music when the firework displays are at their height.

Jessie Bascombe, founder of SNDogs a Swindon charity foster home for canines, thinks it is an amazing idea and she will be listening in on Saturday evening with all her dogs.

She told the Advertiser: “This is a step in the right direction and it’s a great introduction to finding a solution that stops owners from drugging up their dogs to calm them.”

She explained: “To make the most of this concept you will need to include other things to make it a complete package, it’s like setting a romantic environment, but for your dog.”

The show will be aired next Saturday evening and humans and dogs can tune in from 7pm. Broadcast in association with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, it is thought to be the first ever programme of its kind dedicated to pets and their owners.

Dog-lover and former BBC Breakfast host, Bill Turnbull, will present what he has described as a safe haven on the radio for pets.

He said pet owners were increasingly frustrated this time of year because “firework season now seems to go on forever.”

“When everybody will be having their displays we thought it would be a good idea to have a programme especially for pets.”

Research suggests classical music calms dogs. Studies were conducted in re-homing centres where the mellow and soothing sound was played into the animals’ kennels.

Jessie recommends putting the lights on, shutting the curtains and creating a space for the dog to be able to settle down in. Giving them their favourite toy and a chewy bone can be helpful and playing Classic FM’s Pet Sounds for the night.

The RSPCA says the number of complaints it has received about firework noise has more than doubled in the past seven years and it wants more restrictions brought in to prevent them being set off in the days and weeks before the big day.

It wants to limit private use to four days - November 5, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali. And it is pushing for the maximum noise level of fireworks for public sale to be cut to 97 decibels from 127.