Police in Bishop’s Castle say they are cracking down on nuisance drones and will seize devices if users are found to be breaking the rules.

It follows a series of complaints made to West Mercia Police about the remote controlled flying devices hovering above properties in villages including Brockton and Worthen.

As the country basks in sunshine, drone users have been taking the opportunity to take photos of Shropshire’s stunning scenery.

Bishop’s Castle Rural Police Team has issued for people who are thinking about taking their devices outside.

“As great as the villages look from the air please appreciate not everyone will want their properties and families recording and sticking on Facebook,” they said.

“The recorded footage should not be able to identify individuals without their consent, or capture close-up images of private areas such as houses or gardens without the consent of the owner.

“We understand the enjoyment with flying drones but there are rules and regulations that you must adhere to in order to ensure you are on the right side of the law.

“We now have new powers to deal with failure to adhere to these regulations which include being able to seize drones.”

Police officers said that Royal Air Force pilots who use the area for training can fly at low altitudes that are below the maximum height – 120m – a drone is allowed to fly.

“Always listen out for other aircraft, if you spot a helicopter in the vicinity of your drone then descend your drone immediately and safely land as soon as possible, keep it on the ground until the helicopter has passed.

They added: “Under CAA guidance Brockton and Worthen can be interpreted as a ‘congested area’ meaning you will need to obtain a PfCO to fly over the area. For a hobby flight you need to abide by the drone code and maintain a minimum of 50m from Persons, Vessels, Vehicles and Structures (PVVS) at all times and staying more than 150m clear of the congested area.”

The Bishops Castle and Rural policing area is the largest and one of the most rural local policing areas in the West Mercia force area.