The Red Arrows came within a few hundred feet of a mid-air smash with a jet airliner, a new report into the Lincolnshire-based team has revealed.

According to the report by the UK Airprox Board, the Red Arrows came within 900ft of colliding with the BMI Baby passenger plane carrying holidaymakers above Weston-super-Mare.

An investigation was launched after the board – which is funded by the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority – received notice of the incident on August 9 last year.

The team had gone to Weston to entertain holidaymakers after the pier had burnt down.

The board heard how the nine-strong Hawk team were forced to take evasive action to avoid a possible mid-air crash.

The report states the Boeing 737 jet destined for Cardiff came within a "short distance" – 900ft (270m) vertically and 0.7 miles horizontally – with the Scampton-based team.

Confusion between the air traffic controllers over which planes where in which airspace led to the incident.

Bristol Air Traffic Control said it was not aware of the Boeing as this was being directed under Cardiff air control where it was due to land.

The controller dealing with the planes said she believed the Hawks were in the Weston area but was relying "solely on the Hawk leader's position reports to form her estimate of their position".

For more on the near-miss, see Saturday's Echo.