Organisers of a sky lantern festival have been warned to scrap the event by the RSPCA, the Peak District National Park and the Countryside Alliance amid fears of new wildfires.

The heatwave has caused ripe conditions for blazes to start and spread, and many are worried that the festival, due to be held in the Peak District later this month, could cause untold damage to scenery, livestock and perhaps even homes.

The Lights Fest, a series of events which began in the United States and is organised on Facebook, is due to be held on Buxton Racecourse on the 18th of July. At it, thousands of people are due to lift lit lanterns into the sky.

Promotional material for the event reads: "At the perfect moment everyone ignites their personalized sky lanterns with Tiki torches and lets them take flight. It creates a surreal ambiance, where time slows down and your single flame rises and joins with thousands of others to light up your life."

The Peak District National Park said moorland fires were "lethal" to wildlife and lanterns only increased the risk.

The organisation told the BBC that the lanterns increased the risk of fire on dry moorland and were "devastating to the landscape, lethal for wildlife and a threat to people and homes".