The incident has prompted calls for greater restrictions on the availability of fireworks.

Loki, a two-year-old Irish wolfhound, was out with Martin Rafferty on his usual walk near his home in Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, when a loud firework was set off nearby.

Loki panicked and bolted for home. He ran into the side of a car and was then found by Mr Rafferty's neighbour and RSPCA inspector Claire Ryder, who was passing on her way home. They stayed with the dog until his owner arrived.

Mr Rafferty said: "Loki is not usually scared of fireworks but they seem to have become much louder this year.

"He would normally stay with me on a walk, but was terrified by the loud bang.

"He now has to stay on a lead, at least until the fireworks have finished."

Loki was checked by a vet and suffered no injuries in the incident, which took place on Tuesday, October 21.

Mrs Ryder said: "I was just passing when I saw the dog run into the car, so I stopped to make sure he was OK and stayed with him. It was late afternoon and not even dark, so the fireworks were completely unexpected."

The incident highlights the dangers of fireworks to family pets, with the RSPCA leading the campaign to introduce a reduction in the maximum noise limit of all fireworks. The charity also wants fireworks restricted to organised, well-advertised displays so that owners can be prepared.

The RSPCA now receives twice as many fireworks-related calls as it did just eight years ago. In last November alone, the animal welfare charity handled 484 fireworks calls, 28 more than in the whole of 1999.