A report into the damage that can be caused when flying objects come crashing to the ground has been commissioned and will help leaders decide whether to ban their release on council land.

The call to clear the skies of unwanted dangers came from Councillor Paul Gittings, sport and culture leader, who put the motion to Reading Borough Council’s full council meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Gittings said: “We are not killjoys but we do have to take responsibility for these activities.

“In the most serious incident in this country, 10 firefighters were injured and I think that is 10 too many. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has got involved in something which in effect is quite a frivolous exercise but for the CAA to get involved shows it is beholden on us to think long and hard about it.”

As well as concerns that sky lanterns and helium balloons can harm the environment and wildlife when they fall back to earth, an amendment to include drones was added by Cllr Ed Hopper.

He said: “I would like to add camera drones to this as they are now coming down in price and being given as Christmas gifts so we are seeing more of them which can lead to a loss of privacy when they fly over.”

If a ban is approved, residents would only be prevented from releasing lanterns, balloons or drones from council-controlled land and for some members this showed a flaw in the project.

Cllr Ricky Duveen said: “Once they are in the air they can go anywhere. I do not think this is an issue that Reading Borough Council could tackle on its own.” The could come from Devon or Cornwall for all we know once they are in the air.”

Though Cllr Duveen did add his support to the motion Cllr Jeanette Skeats maintained the town’s leaders were not powerless.

She said: “These things have to start somewhere. It is very much a safety issue and we should take that seriously.”