Ban for sky lanterns in Black Country and Staffordshire

The paper devices, which use the heat of a small flame to take off into the night's sky, caused £6 million of damage at Smethwick's Jayplas recycling plant in 2013 - one of the biggest fires to hit the West Midlands.

They have become hugely popular over recent years, particularly at weddings, new years celebrations, vigils and other public and private events.

Staffordshire Country Council has already taken the move to ban the paper-framed lanterns on council property. A special clause will now be inserted into all leases and licences preventing the use of the lanterns.

And now Wolverhampton City Council is to discuss the possibility of restricting the use of sky lanterns at marriage venues and on council property across the city, as well as council organised events.

As well as the fire risk, they also can be harmful to animals and devastating for farmers.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "A lot of people have raised their concerns about the health and safety risks sky lanterns carry.

"We are doing what a lot of councils have already done, including Staffordshire Council in recent weeks.

"We have looked at trying to introduce a bylaw which would prohibit them all together but those can usually take some time, so we are taking steps to ensure we do all we can to stop them being used on our property and at events we put together.

"I think there is a feeling growing all over the country that people want these lanterns banned because of the dangers they can pose.

"There is all sorts of risks not only to peoples property but to wildlife and nature.

"I know people like the pretty lights but I don't think anyone would want a sky lantern landing on their property and causing any amount of damage."

Sandwell Council has passed a motion calling for the lanterns to be banned by the Government.

Leader councillor Darren Cooper said: "I support what Wolverhampton City Council is proposing and what Staffordshire has done. After the devastating fire in Smethwick we, as a council, passed a resolution calling for Chinese lanterns to be banned. We need the government to put a ban on the lanterns because as councils we can pass a by-law banning them on property but it is virtually impossible to enforce - it needs action higher up.

Wolverhampton City Council also say they will look to lobby the ban with the Government and seek to put restrictions in place on a national level.

A host of organisations, including the Chief Fire Officers Association, National Farmers Union, Women's Farmers Union, Marine Conservation Society, Country Land Owners Association, RSPCA and RSPB are backing the idea.

The UK government has not to date banned sky lanterns, however, 33 councils so far have taken the decision to apply local controls to restrict their use.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) is also calling for a review of legislation regarding the use of sky lanterns.

Bosses at Walsall Council said lanterns had not been banned and there were no plans to put a ban in place.