Julie Girling, Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, writes:

I am hugely disappointed at the decision not to ban sky lanterns following a recent report highlighting their impact on livestock and the environment.

The independent report carried out for Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government assessed the possible impact of sky lanterns and helium balloons on livestock and the environment, including their fire risk, and suggests throughout that sky lanterns pose a risk to aviation, the environment and a significant risk to coastal rescue services.

Many cases from across the UK are highlighted including examples of sheep deaths, marine and coastal litter and examples of fires caused by sky lanterns.

It seems this evidence is not enough as, according to the report, the risk of death and injury sky lanterns pose to livestock is 'low'.

In other EU countries, this product has been either banned or removed from sale. The Spanish authorities have said uncontrolled sky lanterns posed a risk of burns and fire.

We know of the very real risk they pose to wildlife, crops, the environment and human life.

I was confident this review would lead to a ban of sky lanterns, however that is not the case.

I will continue to push the UK Government to take action on the sale and use of sky lanterns. I would like to hear readers' views on this and urge readers to get in touch via http://www.juliegirling.com">www.juliegirling.com.