RESIDENTS of one street in Oswestry are getting concerned by drone use in their area.

Mark Parry of Brookhouse Road, along with a number of his neighbours, was shocked to find drones flying close to their property.

The suggestion is that someone is using the drones to spy on properties, as well as deliberately acting as a nuisance to residents.

Mark feels police should do more to target how the machines are used, having been the target of drones in the past.

"These drones are targeting our homes," he said. "We've had police down here no end of times. It seems like drone users are trying to look for vulnerable targets.

"Police should be on it, we shouldn't have to report it all the time. People shouldn't have to do that.

"The police always look into it long after it happens. They're not taking it seriously. But I do wonder what they can do."

An FOI request submitted to West Mercia Police shows that between 2014 and the beginning of 2019 there were 36 reported drone-related offences committed.

Of these offences, three led to a charge directly related to flying a drone, with 'evidential difficulties' preventing further action on the majority of other cases.

Official guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority says: "As a general rule, unless the drone pilot has permission from the CAA, he or she should not be flying a camera equipped within 150m of a ‘congested area’ (e.g. town or city) or at a public event.

"The definition of a congested area in relation to a city, town or settlement means any area which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes.

"When the pilot does have permission from the CAA, such flights are usually restricted to flight distances no closer than 50m from people, vehicles and structures that are not ‘under the control’ of the pilot.

"These restrictions mean that the use of a drone in public places is limited and often not suitable or legal unless the operator has received the appropriate permission from the CAA.

"Our enforcement strategy has recently changed to better reflect the balance of capabilities between the CAA and local police services."

Any residents with concerns about drones being used, either from a safety or privacy perspective, should contact the police on 101.