ACCIDENT investigators say an aircraft which veered off a runway and on to a grass verge was probably lined up for take-off in the wrong place.

The plane, carrying a single passenger from Durham Tees Valley Airport to Copenhagen, veered in the wrong direction after the pilot felt a bump.

The co-pilot later reported seeing a hare or rabbit running towards the aircraft, which he believed to have caused the disturbance.

But a report published this week by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said no animal remains were found at the site after an extensive search.

Instead, it was believed that the aircraft was wrongly lined up for take-off at the edge of the runway, rather than the centre.

"Measures had been taken by the airport operator to reduce the likelihood of a crew lining up on the edge line," said the report.

But it added that there were no ground markings to alert the pilot that the aircraft was in the wrong place.

An airport spokesman said a review of the ground markings was taking place, though it was unconnected to the accident last November 25.

An upgrade to the airfield ground lighting system is also planned for later this year.

* The Highways Agency has agreed that trunk road and motorway signs to the airport can now be changed to carry its new name.