Police have issued a warning after a helicopter searching for a man in Tonbridge was targeted with a high powered torch.

The aircraft was circling woods in the Horns Lodge Lane area at 10pm yesterday after a 999 call was received about concerns for a man's welfare.

After a search lasting four hours the man was found, safe and well, shortly after 2am.

But during the mission a powerful torch was shone at the helicopter, a criminal offence punishable by a prison sentence and something that could have led to a catastrophic accident.

A Kent Police spokesman said officers later located the person responsible, who was given "words of advice".

The National Police Air Service, based in Redhill in Surrey: said: "Endangering aircraft is illegal and costs lives."