THE Vale branch of the RSPCA have reminded people of the dangers Chinese Lanterns pose to animals ahead of this New Year's Eve.

The RSPCA have urged people to refrain from using sky lanterns in their celebrations this year and prevent possibly injuring or killing an animal.

Chinese lanterns can harm wildlife, livestock and other animals. Birds and wildlife can become entangled in the wire or bamboo frames leading to injury or death.

Animals have also been known to accidentally eat fallen lantern parts which can cause internal bleeding, leading to a slow painful death.

RSPCA Cymru has long highlighted the dangers of sky lanterns, and continues to call on the Welsh Government to implement an outright ban on their use across Wales.

Last year the Welsh Government wrote to local authorities encouraging them to introduce a voluntary ban, and so far Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Caerphilly and Conwy have done so.

When the issue was last raised at a meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan council in June, Councillor Ian Johnson was told by council leader Neil Moore that there were no plans to ban Chinese lanterns in the Vale of Glamorgan due to the risk of an incident being "low".

Councillor Moore added: "However, I am very mindful of their inherent danger and personally do not approve of them, particularly as lanterns can contain flammable substances, which if they failed could cause injury to anyone they fall on, particularly in the case of young children.

"Thankfully, to my knowledge, no such incident has been reported in the Vale. I will, therefore, ask officers to continue to monitor the situation."

RSPCA Cymru’s Public Affairs Manager, Chris O’Brien, said: “Sky lanterns can be popular as part of New Year’s celebrations, but it is vital the public understand the dangers associated with their use.

“As we prepare to bid farewell to 2014, RSPCA Cymru strongly urges the public to consider the harm sky lanterns can cause to pets, farm animals and wildlife, and consider suitable alternatives for their New Year celebrations.

"Five local authorities in Wales have banned the use of sky lanterns on council-owned land, and we will continue to campaign in the hope the 17 local authorities in Wales will follow suit.

“Whilst an outright ban remains RSPCA Cymru's objective, local authorities can deliver a powerful statement to their local community and beyond by implementing voluntary bans on the land which they control.”

So far more than 200 people have urged their council to ban the use of sky lanterns on their land. Visit www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/skylanterns for details.