Animal drone light show an alternative to fireworks

A penguin created by drones appears in the night sky above Edgbaston Stadium

Giant sea creatures, soaring birds and majestic animals created by more than 600 drones have lit up the night sky above Birmingham.

The 40-minute show, WILD, at Edgbaston Stadium on Friday, brought the animal kingdom to life in a dazzling fusion of cutting-edge technology, artistry and music.

Animal welfare charities have called for alternative shows like WILD to be used instead of loud firework displays.

Dominic Mills, from the event's producer Yuup, said the company wanted to create an event that was safer for animals and that "celebrates nature in a way that's sensitive to it".

"[We wanted] something that delivers wonder and excitement without the loud bangs, waste, or disruption that traditional displays can cause," he explained.

The show saw drones, which were created by Celestial, flying in formation to music.

Birmingham was the first stop on a UK tour of the WILD drone show.

Grace Goddard, with her friend Holly Way, were among thousands watching

Grace Goddard, with her friend Holly Way, were among the thousands of people who endured the rain to watch the show.

"We just wanted something different. We always go for fireworks, so we thought that it would be nice to try something new," Ms Goddard said.

Both women have pets so that was also a consideration when they bought the tickets.

"It was just as engaging and beautiful, and was so immersive," Ms Way added.

The two have no plans to go to fireworks displays, but said they would go to another drone show.

Animal welfare charities are calling for alternatives to loud fireworks

There are at least half a dozen firework displays planned across the West Midlands on the post-Bonfire Night weekend.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has warned that fireworks cause animals anxiety and fear and could lead to injuries and deaths.

The charity called for changes to laws, including designating "firework-free zones", limiting the noise level of fireworks and their sales to consumers, and reviewing regulations surrounding alternatives to fireworks, such as drone displays.

It has said drone light shows should be explored further as an alternative display.

"Though they're not 100% silent, they're a much quieter and less frightening way of celebrating," it added.

People are open to the idea of trying something different to fireworks, research shows

However, the RSPCA has also expressed some concerns about the displays.

"Organisers of drone displays will still need to consider their location so they don't negatively impact animal wellbeing," a spokesperson said.

"Our only concern would be for wildlife. While they are much less disruptive than fireworks, which is a positive step, they can still cause distress to animals and have been known to collide with birds."

The Social Market Foundation think tank surveyed 1,000 Britons last year and found that 91% of them are open to partial replacement of traditional fireworks with alternative displays, like lasers, drones, or silent/quiet fireworks.

More than 60% of those surveyed said that alternative displays could be just as fun to watch as traditional fireworks.