Sir – Chinese lanterns are lightweight, paper-covered frames which float into the air powered by the heat of a candle.

They can look lovely as they rise into the night sky — but they are a menace when they land in the countryside.

If the wire parts are eaten by grazing animals, such as cattle, deer and horses they can pierce an animal’s gut, causing an agonising death. Chinese lanterns have already caused a number of animal fatalities.

The wire parts can also be chopped up by farm machinery during silage and hay making-leading to ingestion at a later date.

At this time of year the lanterns cause a fire risk and there has recently been a crop fire where the cause was suspected to be a Chinese lantern.

Can I appeal to people to think twice before releasing them into the sky?

You will be saving animals’ lives and preventing time consuming call-outs of the fire service.

Jeff Powell, Chairman, NFU Vale and Wallingford Branch