THE mother of a young boy badly injured by a Chinese lantern has welcomed calls for limits on their usage.
North Wales AM Antoinette Sandbach has launched a legislative bid to restrict the use of the lanterns, which have drawn criticism from concerned parents and farmers.
She has received the backing of Emma Foulkes, whose four-year-old son Cael Jones suffered facial burns at a bonfire party when hot wax from a lantern poured over him.
Miss Foulkes, of Ffordd Llanerch, Penycae, said: “I back anything that can be done to help improve the situation.
“The lanterns are too dangerous and something definitely needs to be done about them.”
Miss Foulkes said Cael still has some visible signs of scarring from last November’s incident but has otherwise made a good recovery.
But the family is not prepared to risk a repeat of the horror and intends to avoid bonfire parties this year.
Miss Foulkes added: “Seeing bonfires and hearing fireworks does bring bring back a bit what happened and we don’t want to go through it again.”
Ms Sandbach is concerned at the risks posed by Chinese lanterns, also known as sky lanterns, which carry a naked flame into the night sky.
She hopes to safeguard public and animal welfare by making the case for new legislation.
Her chance to raise the matter in the Assembly hinges on her proposal being selected in a ballot of members.
She said: “No one wants to be a killjoy, but releasing these lanterns puts other people, farm animals and property at risk.
“While the lanterns are airborne, they can be mistaken for marine distress flares and have the potential to damage aircraft.
“The burning fuel can set alight to residential and business premises, and farmland is also at risk in dry weather.
“They also pose an unacceptable threat to farm animal welfare.
“Cattle are naturally inquisitive and are all too easily injured by eating metal fragments from these lanterns.”
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