Chinese lanterns have been "an accident waiting to happen for years" and should now be banned in order to cut the risk of fires, and the threat to property and livestock.
That is the call from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the South West – a region that has seen more than its share of blazes caused by the menace from the skies. The new demand follows a devastating blaze at a Midlands plastics recycling plant in which 11 firemen were injured – but CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said that the Government should have foreseen the threat and taken action earlier.
He commented: "There is no doubt these lanterns make an impressive sight lifting into the evening sky, but with sales around a quarter of a million a year and rising the risk of serious damage from what is, effectively, a mini-hot air balloon composed of flame, paper and wire, has been increasing dramatically."
Mr Mortimer said there seemed to be a sense of public denial about the potential danger to people, livestock, woodlands, standing crops, moorland and buildings, but, he added, there could be no further doubt in anybody's mind that a ban would be in the public interest.
He added: "In the South West we have been calling for action to outlaw these lanterns for the last four years.
Wild animals and cattle have been injured or killed and millions of pounds of damage has been caused by fires started by sky lanterns.
"The concept of launching a flaming bonfire into the night sky with absolutely no idea of where it will land has always seemed a bit reckless and bizarre.
"Perhaps now that so many firemen's lives have been put at risk, ministers will think again."