Farmers and nature experts have praised a council for proposals to ban the release of helium balloons and Chinese lanterns into the air.

Last week it was revealed that Shepway District Council (SDC) was looking to impose the ban in January, to help ease pollution and the danger to wildlife.

This week, the National Union of Farmers (NFU) and Owen Leyshon, a Romney Marsh nature expert, called the decision “tremendous news”.

It comes after similar bans in Kent, from Swale Borough Council last month and Canterbury City Council last year.

Isobel Bretherton, a spokesman for NFU South East said: “We would welcome further bans by individual local authorities as it all helps to reinforce the message that release of sky lanterns causes unacceptable impacts on farmers’ animals and crops.

“Helium balloons are equally dangerous too as they can be ingested by cows, causing the animal to die by choking.”

Once lit, sky lanterns risk causing fires wherever they land and cause a litter nuisance, similarly with balloons.

A nationwide campaign led by the RSPCA and other organisations has sparked bans across roughly 62 local authorities.

Typically, if someone is caught they will face a hefty fine and dealt with similarly to littering offences.

Mr Leyshon said: “It’s tremendous news the council is looking to impose this ban.

“We’re forever picking up balloons and the remnants from Chinese lanterns.

“This isn’t too little, too late and we can all do our bit to stop rubbish getting into the sea.”

A spokesman for SDC said a report is going to council bosses in January recommending the ban. The authority “shares concerns” about littering and harm to animals, they added.

The Marine Conservation Society last week revealed 339.5kg of waste was picked up across nearly 2,500m of the county’s coastline. It too campaigns against the release of balloons.

Its position statement says: “Intentional outdoor releases of balloons and sky lanterns are an act of littering and should be classified as such.

“What goes up must eventually fall back down to earth and/or sea, where it can either entangle wildlife, or be ingested if certain species confuse balloons/balloon fragments for food (such as endangered marine turtles).”