Copter pilot 'blinded' by laser pen

A man has been arrested after the pilot of a police helicopter was temporarily blinded by a laser pen shone from a house.

The helicopter was helping police pursue a car from Greater Manchester in Nelson, Lancashire.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "It is alleged that a man was at his home and he's shone a laser pen at the police helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot and causing him to take evasive action."

The pilot contacted a police unit on the ground who arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of endangering an aircraft. The man is in police custody.

The police spokesman said: "This had the potential for a very, very serious accident with multiple deaths."

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