Demonstration of a powerful laser pen

Nearly 100 cases of laser pens being shone into the cockpits of planes using Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been reported to police since January.

The high-powered devices can send a beam several miles high when shone from the ground, dazzling pilots.

There have been calls to ban laser pens of more than 1 milliwatt (mW) in strength.

This pen, surrendered at Gatwick, is 2,000mW in strength.