TWO men escaped with their lives when a powerful laser locked onto the light aircraft they were piloting over Furness causing temporary disorientation.

The pair had to shield their eyes as a glaring green glow lit up the cockpit of the plane as it flew over Ulverston at 2,500ft.

Now flying instructor Bob Stinger, who was giving a night-time lesson when his plane was targeted, is calling for strong laser pens to be made illegal.

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"It was two nights in a row that someone in Ulverston decided to attack a plane I was flying in with a really strong laser pen," said Mr Stinger, who lives in Brampton. "It happens quite a lot in Blackpool and in Carlisle but never in South Cumbria before."

The instructor and his student, John Coulthard, had to turn the lights off in the aircraft for a short period so the person with the laser could not see them - however, as soon as they turned them back on the laser reappeared.

Mr Stinger, who has been flying for 12 years, said that the lasers are 'dangerous' as they distract pilots and can even cause eye damage.

"Incidents have been happening more and more in the last five years," he said. "In the last 18 months even more - it's happened to me about 40 times probably."

It is illegal to shine a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot but Mr Stinger would like more to be done, suggesting it should be illegal to have a laser pen that transmits more than 100 yards.

Mr Coulthard, from Carlisle, had been taking his first night lesson with Mr Stinger when the light hit his side of the aircraft.

"I was shielding my eyes but trying to fly at the same time," Mr Coulthard, who has been flying for four years, said. "This was not a common laser it was a green strong device. There's no reason to own it other than cause mischief.

"If it was a coastguard vehicle - that could be absolutely catastrophic."

During both incidents, which have been reported to Cumbria Police, Mr Stinger and Mr Coulthard were at the controls flying at 2,500ft.

"Some of these lasers are so strong you can blind somebody - enough for them to lose control of their aircraft," said Mr Coulthard.

Although nobody was injured, police have issued warnings about the dangers of the lasers.

Sgt Rupert Johnston, from Cumbria Police, said: "Shining laser pens at planes is incredibly reckless behaviour. I would urge anyone who sees someone shining lights at planes to report it to the police as it could prove very dangerous with far reaching consequences.

"Shining a laser pen at an aircraft could distract or disorientate the pilot and is an extremely dangerous thing to do with potentially devastating consequences."

According to a survey of the membership of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), 55 per cent of pilots say they have experienced a laser attack in the past 12 months and four per cent of pilots have suffered six or more attacks.

Steve Landells, a BALPA flight safety specialist, said: "Pilots understand there are legitimate uses for lasers, but people need to realise they are not toys. Pointing them at an aircraft puts all those on-board and those on the ground nearby in danger.

“We are concerned about the high number of laser attacks in recent years and about the increasing power of these devices. Pilots want rules in place to restrict the importation, sale and possession of all but the lowest powered lasers."

BALPA is working with the government, aviation authorities and police to look at new legislation around lasers that will increase police power and allow them to stop, search and arrest anyone who they suspect is carrying a laser without good reason.

In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) received 1,439 reports of laser attacks in 2015, with the highest number of reported attacks taking place in the London/Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester areas. Comparatively, in 2009 there was just 746 reported incidents.

A spokesperson for CAA 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."

Earlier this year a Virgin plane bound for New York had to return to Heathrow Airport after a laser was shone at the cockpit. The co-pilot reported feeling unwell following the incident. Also this year, a British Airways flight from Bergen to Heathrow was targeted by a green laser.

Mr Stinger said that although Mr Coulthard's flying did not deteriorate following the incident, he was 'really distracted' by it, which is one of the main dangers of the pens.

The first incident of the plane being targeted at around one mile south-east of Ulverston was reported at around 8.50pm on October 8, and the second at around 7.55pm on October 9.

Anyone who has any information about the two incidents should call Cumbria Police on 101 and ask for Sgt Rupert Johnston, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.