THE birthplace of Guy Fawkes is to place a 10pm curfew on fireworks.

City of York Council will impose the time restriction on fireworks displays held on land managed by the authority - including York's Knavesmire - except for November 5 and December 31.

For other areas of open land currently leased out by the council, it will be looking to put in place a voluntary agreement for a 10pm finish.

The advisory committee for the executive member for leisure and heritage, Coun Keith Orrell, discussed the issue last night, following a 135-signature petition from residents of south York complaining about "deafening" fireworks displays held at York Racecourse going on too long, and frightening pets and young children.

The timing of fireworks let off at a charity ball in honour of murdered York backpacker Caroline Stuttle, held on Knavesmire on November 6, was rescheduled to finish early, at 9pm, to allay residents' concerns.

This followed an article in the Evening Press a week previously about the distress and anger felt among local residents, whose night-time peace was being shattered by thunderous firework displays. Coun Orrell said: "We want to work with the racecourse and the people in that area to set this up as a voluntary agreement.

"It must be said that of 30 fireworks events held in the year last year, only six were held at the racecourse, and we are going to liaise with hotels in the area to ensure they are happy with the curfew."

He said the perception that only the racecourse was to blame for the noise nuisance was wrong, with smaller hotels and other venues also holding fireworks displays for wedding receptions and parties.

November 5 this year will mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.

Born in 1570, York's most infamous son, Guy Fawkes, is thought to have been born on the site of the current Guy Fawkes Hotel in High Petergate, and educated at St Peter's School.

Meanwhile, the committee also agreed to go ahead with plans to introduce short stay pay and display parking at the Rowntree Park car park in York.

This came after monitoring showed shoppers were abusing the free parking and clogging up parking spaces that would otherwise be used by people visiting the park.

Updated: 10:40 Tuesday, January 18, 2005