HEREFORDSHIRE Council will be urged to bring in restrictions on the use of Chinese lanterns tomorrow.

The authority currently has no policy on their use within parks and open spaces, something county councillor Bruce Baker wants to chance.

The Conservative member for Hampton ward will ask a meeting of full council at Hereford Shirehall to consider imposing restrictions on their use at events licensed by the council and on council-owned land in general.

He also wants a publicity campaign making the public aware of the risks.

The paper lanterns feature a candle or fuel cell filled with paraffin wax which is suspended inside a frame of wire.

When lit, they float gently upwards and drift away, landing when the fuel has run out.

The devices have been blamed for several fires including a huge blaze at a recycling plant in Smethwick, West Midlands, two years ago.

"You don't see many of them but you tend to see the after-effects," said Cllr Baker.

"I can't see anyone saying 'we should keep them, they're wonderful'."

Cllr Baker says a friend of his wife had to have a horse put down after ingesting part of a lantern.

He said he is not calling for a legal ban on them but for conditions to be imposed preventing their use on council land or at events such as festivals which people apply to the council for permission to host.

His notice of motion reads: "Members of this council will be aware of the regular use of Chinese lanterns at large public events and other social occasions throughout the country in general and in this county in particular, but may not be aware of the damage their use can cause to private and commercial property and their potentially lethal effects if swallowed by farm animals or domestic pets, especially in rural counties such as ours.

"Herefordshire Council currently has no policy on the use of Chinese Lanterns within our parks, our open spaces, our river banks, our cemeteries or the crematorium gardens, nor are there any restrictions on their use at public events licensed by this authority.

"I therefore move that Council resolve that the executive consider imposing restrictions on the use of Chinese lanterns on council owned land or at events licensed by the council, and consider implementing a publicity campaign to inform residents of the risks associated with the use of such lanterns.”