Sky lanterns banned from Caithness
SKY lanterns have been banned in Caithness and other parts of the Highland Council area as agricultural chiefs are urging the public to abide by the law.
Highland Council is one of eight local authorities in Scotland which have banned the release of the lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns.
The lanterns, which are constructed from paper with a wire or wooden frame and contain a lighted candle, have been deemed a fire risk and can be a danger to animals.
They pose a fire hazard to stacks of hay and straw, woodland and farm buildings.
If they land within crops grown to feed livestock, the frames risk being ingested causing great harm to livestock.
NFU Scotland’s animal health and welfare policy manager, Penny Johnston, is urging people to abide by the law.
She said: “Sky lanterns are seemingly innocent devices and are beautiful to look at.
“But they can cause untold damage as there is no control over where these burning structures of paper, metal and wood decide to land.
“We would ask members of the public to avoid the use of lanterns, and to understand the risks that these can pose.”