Used since the 13th century to symbolise hope and good luck, Chinese flying lanterns seem to be the latest 'must-have' at stylish parties, festivals and private celebrations.
For farmers, though, they are a cause for concern. The wire mount for the fuel cell has the potential to injure livestock if it contaminates pasture, cut silage or hay. Arable farmers fear a standing crop being ignited by a lantern returning to the ground.
The worries are compounded because the lanterns are often released in large numbers, can fly for 20 minutes at up to a mile high and can be very difficult to trace.
Farming Today (listen here), BBC Radio 4's Today programme and the BBC News 24 television channel have all covered the story today.
Pat Stanley, who breeds pedigree cattle near Coalville, Leicestershire, told Farming Today: "They may be very pretty, but they're incredibly dangerous and I would like to see them banned. They're made of a hoop of bamboo, which in itself is a very arp piece of wood when it's broken, and then there's a crosspiece of wire.
"If we silage-make in any of these fields, this is all going to be chopped to pieces if we don't see it and find it. That's going to go into my silage clamp and next year I'm going to have dead cows."
NFU press officer Mike Thomas told the BBC news website: "If swallowed, the wire could puncture the stomach lining and cause extreme discomfort and in some cases could prove fatal. There's also a good chance that the wire part of the frame could get wrapped around an animal's foot and become embedded in the skin which would be terribly painful."
To find out what action you can take, where you stand legally and what the NFU is doing, read our member briefing in 'related documents' (see top of page).
- R Dibben - 03/11/2011
We have had a couple of near missed when the lanterns have landed on or near tents. More people will get seriously hurt. I have managed to get one of my suppliers to stop selling them. Get all members to speak with retailers and wholesalers of dangers if you see them or sale. We all need to campaign.
- Hugh Lowe - 27/10/2011
Why is the release of a Chinese lantern not subject to the Litter Act?
- E Jolley - 27/03/2011
When released near moorland they pose a serious risk of causing devastating wildfires.