CHINESE lanterns are a step closer to being banned from all council land in Tendring.

Tendring Council’s Rural Projects panel has recommended to the council's cabinet that they ban the use of Chinese lanterns on all council owned land.

They are also recommending parish and town councils in Tendring ban their release.

Panel chairman Fred Nicholls said the decision had been unanimous.

He said: “Living in a rural area I know only too well the dangers caused by these lanterns and the panel was very keen to see a ban on them.”

Two weeks ago Great Bentley Parish Council spearheaded the move by banning the releasing of lanterns from any land they owned.

At Monday's Lawford Parish Council meeting it was agreed to change the bylaws of the village to stop sky lanterns from being released from all parish owned land.