THE LEADER of Hampshire County Council is considering a ban on sky lanterns, after pressure from a charity.

Councillor Roy Perry will consider banning the use of sky lanterns on all county council-owned land at his decision day on Friday, September 26.

The RSPCA has urged people to lobby their local councils to ban the lanterns. The charity said birds and wildlife can become entangled on the wire or bamboo frames of sky lanterns, leading to injury or death.

In 2011, the county council voted to call on the Government to ban the use of sky lanterns, but no nationwide ban has come into force yet.

Councillor Perry said: “We’ve been concerned about the safety of sky lanterns and the potential damage they can cause for some time and debated the matter three years ago.

“As well as their impact on the environment, livestock and animals including littering on land and at sea, they are a potential hazard to air traffic, coastal shipping and consumer safety.”

Cllr Perry said he will also consider writing to Hampshire schools to impose a similar ban relating to events and activities in their grounds.