TRADING standards officers are urging shoppers and traders to ensure that any sky lanterns bought or sold are as safe possible.
Sky lanterns, or Chinese lanterns as they are commonly known, are increasingly used as part of a celebration but can be dangerous to both people and livestock.
Incidents in the Chester area have included fire damage and more commonly, there have been reports of death or injury to livestock caused by them eating the wire support at the base of the lantern.
Users are being warned to be particularly careful when they are setting them up as there is a possibility that oil or wax can tip over and cause injury.
However, there are lanterns on the market which are 100 per cent bio-degradable and where the wire support has been replaced by flame retardant string or wool.
Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for community and environment, said: “Unfortunately some of the lanterns labelled as 100 per cent bio-degradable still contain wire in the support base.
“We hope that by asking consumers and traders in the area to check that they are buying the non wire versions we can minimise any possible danger to animals.