A Chinese lantern has been blamed for sparking a large fire at an industrial estate in Somerset. Firefighters were called to the Polham Lane industrial estate in Somerton after a tonne of paper and printer cartridges caught fire on Saturday night. A spokesman from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the lantern had fallen on to the paper. Read more
Coastguards are urging people to contact them about planned releases of Chinese lanterns after they were mistaken for distress flares. HM Coastguard has recorded at least four false sightings of flares in the past week that turned out to be Chinese lanterns. Read more
The National Farmers' Union has said the paper lanterns, which contain a candle and are often used at weddings and anniversary celebrations, are a danger to livestock after a cow in Warwickshire choked on the metal wire inside. They are calling on the public to think twice about setting them off as they can float for several miles before falling to the ground. Read more
The Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA) in the United Kingdom (UK) was 'plagued' by reports of fireballs streaking across the skies during the last two weeks in 2009, including the date January 01, 2010. Fireballs are meteors that are particularly bright. These fireball sightings coincide with the Coma Berenicids Meteor Shower, whose shower activity may continue until January 23, 2010. Read more