A POLICE officer was temporarily blinded while he was driving when a laser was shone at his patrol car.

The officer needed hospital treatment after losing vision during the incident in Burnopfield, near Stanley.

Police say several cars were targeted by a powerful green laser on Syke Road at around 11pm on Thursday, September 28.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “One of our patrol cars was targeted which resulted in the officer driving suffering temporary loss of vision with the after effects requiring hospital treatment.

“These actions have placed drivers at great risk and we would like to hear from anyone with information which may assist in locating the person responsible”.

It is the second recent incident in which police officers have been targeted with lasers while driving.

On the same night a 16-year-old was arrested after an officer was targeted in the Newport area of Middlesbrough.

He is due to appear at Teesside Youth Court charged with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.