Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard has issued an appeal against the use of sky lanterns ahead of next week’s Hallowe’en celebrations.

Sometimes called Chinese lanterns, the airborne paper lights carry a flame inside and are often used at social occasions such as birthdays and weddings.

But the lanterns pose a risk to aviation, as well as a nuisance to rescue services which have responded to countless false alarms over presumed emergency flares.

The burning lanterns also pose fire and health risks to land and livestock.

Anyone planning to use such lanterns needs prior permission from the Irish Aviation Authority, which also restricts launches to no more than 50 lanterns.

Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard has the relevant contact details on its Facebook page.