Women campaigning to stop the explosion of dangerous fireworks by threatening a sex strike have seen their numbers swell ahead of New Year's Eve.
The crusade, in which women will refuse sex to partners who encourage dangerous fireworks, started with 20 members in the small town of Lettere some 40km from Naples but has now spread to neighbouring areas and counts well over 100 adherents.
''I can't keep up with the Internet interest, emails are continually arriving,'' said Carolina Staiano, who heads the committee in charge of the operation.
''I'm receiving phone calls all the time from people who want to join. To be honest, I really wasn't expecting this level of interest''.
Staiano, 44, is one of hundreds of Italians close to someone injured by illegal fireworks during street parties at New Year's Eve.
The mother-of-two has spent her life caring for father, who lost the use of his legs before she was even born after someone near him let off a firework at New Year.
''It's terrible that a time of celebration becomes a time of tragedy,'' said Staiano. ''If a sex strike is what it takes in order to get the attention of our men, husbands, partners and sons, then we're ready for it.
''This time they're just going to have to choose: sex or fireworks''.
The province of Naples each year records the highest number of injuries - and sometimes deaths - from the improper use of fireworks and bangers on public streets.
The provincial government of Naples has also signed on to the campaign and is sending residents text messages with the campaign's slogan: 'Make love, not explosions'.
The idea was originally launched by a local emergency room doctor, Vincenzo Sorrentino, who had been campaigning unsuccessfully against illegal fireworks for years.
''We've tried everything to stop the mayhem caused by fireworks but we've never achieved the results we hoped for,'' he said.
''We decided to get women involved because they are more convincing and they always achieve their goals''.
Inspired by the ancient Greek play of Lysistrata, in which the women of Greece refuse their warring menfolk sex until they make peace with Sparta, Sorrentino added: ''this is an issue that men are particularly sensitive to''.
He said the results so far had been promising.
''The idea of no sex is not exactly popular and polls among local men have suggested they plan to make much greater efforts this year to prevent illegal fireworks being let off,'' he said.
''So we're already seeing the first results of the women's efforts. However, the fight against illegal bangers promises to be both long and difficult''.
