LANDOWNERS have been warned against holding bird shoots after a plane had to stop on the runway seconds before take-off.

The easyJet plane, which was carrying 100 passengers from Newcastle Airport to Rome, had to stop after hitting three partridges.

Airport bosses have now written to neighbouring farmers to remind them of their responsibilities.

An inquiry revealed a shooting party had been organised and beaters were seen driving birds towards the airfield.

Passengers were led from the plane after smoke was seen pouring from the aircraft's landing gear in December.

One crew member was injured during the incident.

The airport's head of operations, Dave Laws, said: "Following the incident on December 5, the airport wrote to all landowners adjacent to the airfield, reminding them of the associated dangers and reiterating their responsibilities in relation to aircraft safety.

"While no illegal activities were found to have taken place in relation to the incident, the airport has re-emphasised its concern that shooting activities should not take place in the vicinity of the airfield."

The airport tries hard to keep birds away from flight paths because of the risk that an impact might force a plane to crash.

An investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Branch concluded the birds typically fly close to the ground and would have been almost impossible for the pilot to see on a dark December morning.

The report said: "The commander had a very short time in which to make his decision whether to continue the take-off or to stop.

"The physical evidence of at least one engine suffering damage probably contributed to his decision to stop and, in the event, the aircraft came safely to a stop."

EasyJet said the plane was towed away for inspection.