The destruction of a farmer’s near-ready crop of barley by a wayward Chinese lantern should make everyone stop and think.

In one of the longest dry spells for years, fields are tinder-dry and the smallest spark can quickly lead to damage running into thousands of pounds.

Fires in these conditions are, in some cases, unavoidable but the launch of fiery Chinese lanterns into the sky is something that should simply not be contemplated at present.

As the unfortunate farmer, who suffered when one landed in her field of barley at Stonesfield, said: “ Don’t do it.”