PEOPLE will be banned from letting off Chinese lanterns on any land owned by Caerphilly council, after they started fires on several occasions.

It will now be illegal to let off the paper lanterns, which lift into the sky powered by a flame, on any council owned land or property, including public parks.

The motion banning their sale or use on council property was passed at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Andrew Lewis, councillor for Crumlin, drafted the motion: “There were a few incidents earlier in the year. For example, in my own ward, we had one land on top of the village hall. Fortunately, people were there to see it. There have been dozens of others. In other areas, for example, we had grass fires caused by them in Deri and Hengoed.

“I thought: ‘Before something drastic happens, let’s take action.’

“As far as I’m aware, the only other council that has done this is in Conwy.

“Lots of councils have talked about it, but we’ve actually taken action.”

A recent large fire at the Smethwick recycling plant, in Birmingham, was caused by a lantern.

Last month, natural resources minister for the Welsh Government Alun Davies wrote to all local authorities in Wales, encouraging them to introduce a voluntary ban on the release of lanterns and helium balloons.

He said: “Sky lanterns and helium balloons pose a real danger to livestock, other animals and buildings. The fire risk associated with the use of sky lanterns is significant, while the ingestion of debris from lanterns can kill or seriously harm an animal.

“We are also supporting the UK government’s efforts to work with retailers and manufacturers to ensure that clear warnings about the risk are placed on packaging.”