Shropshire drone accident fear is raised by RAF officer

It comes after six reports of drones causing a potential risk to aircraft associated with RAF Shawbury this year, including in places such as Telford and Nesscliffe.

The legal maximum flying height for drones is 400 feet, but they have been spotted in Shropshire flying at 2,000 and 1,500 feet.

Squadron Leader Gary James, Station Flight Safety Officer (SFSO) at RAF Shawbury, said he is not against the ideas of drones, but stressed the need to use them safely.

"They are getting cheaper and cheaper and more people are having them so the risk has increased. You can get them from eBay, Amazon and Jessops really easy," he said.

"It is only a matter of time before something happens.

"Last year it was more hearsay, but this year we have had actual sightings from our helicopters. There has been one flying at 2,000 feet over Telford, which is illegal and stupid.

"One of the problems is that the law is difficult to enforce as its hard catching people in the act. But police have been given guidance."

Squadron Leader James, who owns his own drone, admits they do have their uses.

"They are used for searching for missing people, looking at fire damage to properties and by estate agents for aerial shots of properties. One guy I know films the fairways at golf courses," he said. "It is not that people are being malicious with them. A lot of people just see them as a toy that can fly."

To help spread the message of the danger of drones to aircraft, Squadron Leader James has created a leaflet, which is available for the public and contains a map showing where airspace activity takes place in the county.

He also said visits to schools and council meetings are among the initiatives he is looking at in the future.

Earlier this year it was revealed a drone spotted inside a house in north Shropshire was one of 55 calls of drone complaints made to West Mercia Police last year.

British police forces received almost 900 complaints about drones during 2015. One of these included a caller who reported seeing drones inside a house in Ellesmere last November.

Logs from police in Shropshire show how the drones were also used to fly over a hunt protest in Shrewsbury and were spotted flying over a quarry near peregrine falcons in Bishop's Castle.

Shropshire residents' reports to police have also included complaints about drones flying over their homes and gardens.

Squadron Leader James added: "I don't want to stop people using them, I just want them to do it safely."