The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has backed a government guide to staying safe on Bonfire Night that specifically recommends the public to not use sky lanterns because of the risk to animals, littering in the countryside and starting fires.

CLA President Henry Robinson said: “It is very good news that the Government is now properly starting to recognise the dangers of sky lanterns and we hope that eventually this will lead to an outright ban.

“We have too many examples from CLA members of the dangers caused by these lanterns for this problem not to be taken seriously. Many of the Local Authorities we have written to as part of our campaign are now banning the use of them on their own land because they understand the issues.”

Read the Department of Communities and Local Government Report ‘A community guide to organising bonfires and fireworks’