A DRONE registration system is to be launched under new rules to reduce misuse, the Government has announced.

The measure will help authorities trace owners when the flying gadgets are used inappropriately.

Concerns that a mid-air collision between a drone and an aircraft could occur have been fuelled by scores of near misses.

Twenty-two incidents involving drones, balloons or unknown objects were investigated by the UK Airprox Board from January to April this year.

The new rules mean drones weighing 250g or more must be registered. An online or app-based system may be introduced and users will have to pass a safety awareness test as part of the process.

Many drones available on the high street are too light to be affected by the regulation, but the Government said it chose the weight following new research.

A study funded by the Department for Transport, airline pilots' union Balpa and regulator the Military Aviation Authority found drones weighing 400g could damage the windscreen of a helicopter.

<iframe width="640" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHUP8UR1_Xw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It would take a heavier drone of around 2kg to critically harm airliner windscreens and only if the aircraft was flying at high-speed rather than during take-off and landing, according to the research.

The Government is exploring the best legislative options for introducing the rules.

It also plans to expand the use of geo-fencing, through which drones are programmed not to enter restricted locations, such as prisons or airports.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) called for a register of drone users to be linked to systems which would allow real-time tracking and tracing of the gadgets, to aid enforcement of flying laws.

An investigation published earlier this year revealed police are being flooded with reports about drones.

The gadgets are at the centre of thousands of episodes registered by police forces each year, including rows between neighbours, prison smuggling, burglary "scoping" exercises and snooping fears.

Figures obtained by the Press Association show forces recorded 3,456 episodes last year, almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237 and more than 12 times the 2014 tally of 283.

Aviation minister Lord Callanan claimed the new rules will strike a balance between taking advantage of the benefits of drones while minimising their misuse.

He said: "The UK is at the forefront of an exciting and fast growing drones market and it is important we make the most of this emerging global sector.

"Our measures prioritise protecting the public while maximising the full potential of drones. Increasingly, drones are proving vital for inspecting transport infrastructure for repair or aiding police and fire services in search and rescue operations, even helping to save lives.

<iframe width="640" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-CYT4PFV_Hs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"But like all technology, drones too can be misused. By registering drones and introducing safety awareness tests to educate users, we can reduce the inadvertent breaching of airspace restrictions to protect the public."

The measures follow a consultation looking at ways to make drone use safer.

Commercial operators already have to complete a training course approved by the CAA and notify the regulator of what drones they have.

Drones - what are the restrictions

Drone users must follow a number of restrictions when using the gadgets.

In November 2016, the Civil Aviation Authority launched a website to publish a revised code of conduct, labelled the Drone Code.

The rules say the devices must not be flown:

:: Above 400ft (120m);

:: Where you cannot see them;

:: Near aircraft, airports or airfields;

:: Within 150ft (50m) of people or property;

:: Over crowds and built-up areas;

:: Within 500ft (150m) horizontally of crowds and built-up areas.