RURAL business leaders are calling on local authorities to ban sky lanterns.

A handful of councils have banned the lanterns, which campaigners say can harm livestock and are a fire risk.

The Country Land and Business Association said it welcomed news Waveney District Council in Suffolk has banned the release of sky lanterns from council-owned land.

Concil cabinet members approved the ban during a meeting on Tuesday (23 September).

Similar policies have been adopted recently by Suffolk Coastal District Council and Tendring District Council, Essex.

Sky lanterns have been blamed for causing a number of fires when they land - often miles from where they were launched.

They have also been blamed for causing livestock deaths after animals ingest the metal or bamboo frames.

The CLA, which has been campaigning for a nationwide ban on sky lanterns for two years, wants other district councils to now follow suit.

It  has previously called for local authorities to amend entertainment licence policy so new licences for certain venues or events can include a clause prohibiting the use of sky lanterns.

CLA eastern region director Nicola Currie said: "Waveney and Suffolk Coastal District Councils have to be applauded for taking this stance on sky lanterns – but now we need other district councils in Suffolk, and throughout the eastern region, to follow suit.

"We have campaigned hard for a long time to raise the awareness of the dangers of sky lanterns to people and their homes, livestock, the environment, and the rural economy as whole.

"People need to realise that if they release one of these lanterns into the sky they risk being responsible for the slow and very painful death of a cow or other grazing livestock, or a fire that destroys someone's home, business or life.

"The CLA will be sending letters to the remaining district councils in Suffolk that have yet to implement the ban urging them to follow suit, as well as continuing its work at a national level lobbying for a parliamentary debate on the issue."