A teenager has been arrested after a laser was shone at the West Yorkshire Police helicopter while it was searching for a missing person.

The helicopter was scrambled to help with the search of a missing person in North Bradford at 9pm on Thursday.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman has said the crew used the onboard hi-tech equipment to locate the laser to a school field off Fairbank Road, Girlington , and directed officers to the site.

A 15-year-old boy from Girlington was arrested and reprimanded for shining a light at an aircraft.

The police spokesman said: “Shining lasers or lights at aircrafts is extremely dangerous as it can dazzle or distract the pilot.

“Lasers are not toys and West Yorkshire police will make every effort to locate those who use them irresponsibly and will seek to prosecute any offenders.”

The incident comes a fortnight after the Telegraph & Argus reported how an association of pilots warned people shining lasers at planes were playing “Russian roulette” with lives. On August 21 the T&A reported how the warning came after four incidents in one evening when the lasers were shone at aircraft flying in and out of Leeds-Bradford International Airport, while a 14-year-old boy was arrested, on the same evening for shining a laser at the police helicopter.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) was leading the calls for action against people caught shining lights at planes.

Richard Toomer, of BALPA, said the lives of everybody on a plane could be “at risk” in the laser pen attacks.

He said: “Shining lasers at aircraft is very stupid and very dangerous and it is likely to land you in serious trouble.

“Pilots can easily be temporarily blinded by laser attacks.

“Being blinded or dazzled by these incredibly bright lasers puts everyone’s life on board that aircraft at risk.”