Chinese lanterns: Think twice says NFU

The public are being urged by the NFU not to use Chinese lanterns as part of Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations.

Thousands of events are expected to take place up and down the country but the NFU has asked people to think twice about releasing any lanterns into the countryside over both weekends.

The warning comes after farming minister Jim Paice MP said that Defra is collating evidence on the true extent of the damage caused by lanterns, from livestock deaths to crop fires.

NFU Government affairs adviser Nick von Westenholz said: "Halloween and Bonfire Night can be fun events for all the family and we hope everyone will enjoy them safely and responsibly.

"We hope, however, that people will refrain from using Chinese lanterns or releasing them into the countryside as part of celebrations. Even though the fire risk is reduced at this time of year, lanterns continue to pose a risk to livestock, either to those still out in their fields, or at a later date when fallen lanterns go undetected. They also pose a huge litter nuisance, and dozens of these large, unsightly objects are often found spread over a wide area of countryside the day after a local celebration or party.

"We are pleased that Defra has taken on-board our messages and is now working with the industry in an attempt to reduce the risks posed."

The NFU has received numerous reports of harm to livestock, and in some instances death, caused by cattle ingesting the metal wires contained within the lantern frames. Lanterns can also be also be chopped up during silage and hay making leading to ingestion at a later date, while the wire can also get tangled around the animal’s feet or become embedded in its skin.

The NFU is also concerned about the bamboo frame used in the construction of most lanterns, which are very durable and prone to splintering, and continues to monitor potential problems similar to those found with metal wires.

Fire services throughout the country and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have joined the NFU in calling for a ban on Chinese lanterns. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency responded to 128 false alerts believed to have been caused by Chinese lanterns from October 1 2009 to September 30 2010.