THERE were 24 reported "laser incidents" involving planes at Leeds Bradford Airport in the first six months of 2015 - the third highest for UK airports, it has been revealed.

The incidents, mostly involving a laser being shone at planes or even directly into pilots' eyes, were reported in the first six months of 2015, and the only airports that saw more incidents were Birmingham, with 32 reports, and London Heathrow, with 48.

In 2014 there was a total of 81 reported incidents at Leeds Bradford Airport.

In 2010 a law was passed in the UK which allows offenders to be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot".

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: "Shining a laser at an aircraft in flight could pose a serious safety risk and it is a criminal offence to do so. Anyone convicted of shining a laser at an aircraft could face a significant fine or even imprisonment should the safety of an aircraft be endangered.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

“We strongly urge anyone who sees lasers being used in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately.”

British Airline Pilots Association general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength.

"It is an incredibly dangerous thing to do. Shining a laser at an aircraft puts that aircraft, its crew and all the passengers on board at completely unnecessary risk. Modern lasers have the power to blind, and certainly to act as a huge distraction and to dazzle the pilots during critical phases of flight."

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There were five reported laser incidents at Leeds Bradford Airport in January 2015, four in February, six in March, four in April, four in May and one in June.