A flight departing from Shetland to Glasgow was forced to turn back after it flew into birds at 1,500ft.

Loganair flight LM438 which was carrying 40 passengers left Sumburgh Airport on the island yesterday but had to turn back shortly after take-off because they had hit a flock of birds. 

Passengers were unable to continue to their destination but were given accommodation for the night before heading to Glasgow on Saturday at 9am on a seperate aircraft.

The company apologised for the disruption to customers but maintained that safety was their first priority. 

They said: "Safety is always our first priority, and as always, our pilots responded immediately and appropriately to the warning that they received on the flightdeck following the bird strike - an eventuality for which every pilot is extensively trained.

"The aircraft made a normal landing back at Sumburgh and our customers were able to disembark as they normally would.

"We arranged hotel accommodation overnight and a replacement flight at the earliest possible opportunity, and we'd like to offer our sincere apologies for this disruption to our customers' journeys."