More than 550 laser attacks recorded at Heathrow Airport in last four years

Lasers have been shone into the cockpit of passenger planes as they have taken off or landed at Heathrow Airport on more than 550 occasions in the last four years.

There is growing concern about laser pens being shone in the eyes of pilots, with some MPs calling for certain high-powered devices to be banned.

UK Civil Aviation Authority statistics published by the Department for Transport show that there have been dozens of reported incidents at Heathrow alone in recent years.

In 2012 there were 150, in 2013 there were 144 and in 2014 there were 165.

Meanwhile, there are currently 95 reported incidents listed for 2015 but a full analysis of the reports for the year is due to be published by the end of April.

That means there have been a total of 554 laser attacks at Heathrow between 2012 and 2015.

The data was published by the UK Department for Transport in response to a written parliamentary question from the Labour MP Ruth Cadbury.