Farmer warns of Chinese lanterns peril (From Craven Herald)

Farmer warns of Chinese lanterns peril

10:10am Saturday 20th February 2010 in

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A sheep farmer has highlighted the danger of Chinese lanterns to livestock and moorland.

Hill farmer David Airey, of New Bridge Farm, Sutton-in-Craven, is backing a National Farmers’ Union call for people to think twice about setting them off.

The NFU has said the paper lanterns, which contain a candle and are often used at weddings and celebrations, are a danger to livestock after a cow in Warwickshire choked on the wire which supports the device.

Mr Airey, Yorkshire West Riding NFU chairman, who farms 1,500 acres, said a lantern had fallen on his land and another near a wall in Sutton village.

He said: “I wondered what the one on my land was at first. Then I realised it was the remnants of one of these lanterns.

“There are two dangers here. The wire can choke an animal and, in summer, when the ground is tinder-dry, they could start a fire.”

Mr Airey said he had seen two lanterns flying over his land, possibly 500 feet high, one of which seemed to be coming from the Settle area.

The NFU also warns the lanterns can land on barns and set them alight, while coastguards have claimed they are mistaken for flares.

The popular party accessory is also thought to be blamed for a large number of “UFO” sightings.

Regional NFU spokesman Oliver Cartwright said the lanterns could fly for 20 minutes at a mile in height.

He said: “We don’t want to put the spoilers on anyone’s celebrations, but we just want to see a little bit of common sense.”

The lanterns have long been used in ceremonies in Asia where releasing them is thought to bring good luck and prosperity.