Lantern Festival UK rejects scam claims

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute said on Wednesday that it had “all the hallmarks of something that isn’t as legitimate as it is making out”.

In response to the allegations, a Lantern Festival UK spokesperson said: “We share the public and media’s heightened awareness of event promotion, following the disastrous Wonka experience in Glasgow that was widely reported recently.

“Our events and theirs could not be more different.

“Our selection of lanterns is based on ensuring aesthetics that align with our advertisements and an effort to limit the environmental impact as well.”

Organisers added that a number of locations had been chosen to “create a safe and environmentally friendly event for all” but new agreements with larger venues had been made due to the popularity of the event.

Sky lanterns have been banned from council-owned land in Birmingham since one was found to have started a huge fire at a waste site in Smethwick, which saw 200 firefighters tackle a blaze involving 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste.

Three of the firefighters required hospital treatment.

As a result sky lanterns are also opposed by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), as well as the RSPCA, which is concerned by the harm they can cause wildlife.

A spokesperson for the NFCC said “sky lanterns have been proven to start wildfires and property fires, kill or injure livestock”.

They added: “NFCC does not believe any such lanterns should be used under any circumstances. Our advice is simple – don’t use them.”