Heathrow pilots are reporting the most incidents of lasers being shone at aeroplanes, new figures show.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there were 1,439 such incidents in 2015 and 121 of them were reported at Heathrow.

The overall total is similar to the figure for 2014, when 1,447 cases were reported.

Stephen Landells, flight safety specialist at the British Airline Pilots Association, described the trend as a "menace".

Speaking to the Evening Standard he said: "The problem with lasers just isn't going away despite all our efforts.

"We continue to work with the CAA and the Department for Transport in trying to find ways to counter this menace.

"Even with the smallest laser, the dazzle and distraction that a pilot experiences at night is putting an aircraft and its passengers in danger.”

He called for the police to be given the power to stop and search people they suspect may be carrying a laser for illegal use.

The CAA said: "We strongly urge anyone who sees a laser being used in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately."