County council bans Chinese lanterns... Should they be illegal in the UK?
Chinese lanterns have been banned on council-owned land and properties in Staffordshire, it was announced today.
A special clause will now be inserted into all leases and licences preventing the use of the lanterns.
It will apply to all Staffordshire County Council-owned property, including farms and parks.
As well as being harmful to animals, the use of the lanterns has also been criticised as a potential fire risk.
Council leader Philip Atkins said today: "The county council and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are well aware of the damage to property and the misery that these lanterns cause to wildlife and farm animals.
"This is the reason we have decided to ban the use of them on our land and property.
"They may well look pretty but when the debris lands on flammable material, in the countryside or on farms and is eaten by wildlife and livestock it can cause real problems."
National Farmers Union deputy president Minette Batters added: "We are pleased that Staffordshire County Council has followed a number of other local authorities and taken the decision to ban the release of sky lanterns on its land."
In June 2013 a blaze started from a stray Chinese lantern at Smethwick's Jayplas recycling plant and caused £6 million worth of damage.