Two pilots were temporarily blinded by a laser light while flying near Sleap Airfield last week.

The incident occurred on Saturday, May 1 and involved a pilot and an instructor taking part in a night flight near Wem.

During the flight a 'laser-like' light was pointed at the aircraft, which temporarily blinded both occupants.

Fortunately the pilots quickly regained their vision, but the incident has forced chief flying instructor of Sleap Airfield, Len Slawinski, to write an letter to the residents of Wem to warn them of the danger.

In the letter, Mr Slawinski said: "Some of you who live in houses situated to the south and south-east of Wem, particularly near the railway bridge area, may have noticed on Saturday evening of May 1, 2021 that an aircraft was performing night flying circuit training which the airfield is permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to do.

"Unfortunately, the pilot and instructor of the aircraft experienced a serious flight safety incident which has prompted me as the chief flying instructor and flight safety manager accountable to the CAA to write to you about.

"A bright laser-like light was shone at the passing aircraft which temporarily blinded both pilots.

"I will leave it to your imagination to consider the possible consequence had their vision not quickly recovered.

"The danger to aircraft from bright lights being shone at them from the ground is very real – to the extent that it is reportable to the CAA and the police as a criminal offence of 'endangerment of flight safety', and can lead to imprisonment.

"It saddens me to have to write to all of our good neighbours pointing out the danger of shining a bright light, particularly when it's only a very small minority living amongst us who could ever consider shining a bright light at an aircraft, wilfully out of spite, rather than accidentally."