DRONES look set to be banned from the Malvern Hills and surrounding commons after reports of wildlife being scared and races being held with the flying machines.

They also say hang-gliders and horse-riders are at risk of being hit by the drones.

Malvern Hills Conservators say they are receiving a growing number of reports of remote-controlled drones such as quad-copters being flown on its land.

They have also been receiving an increasing number of requests from drone operators seeking permission to fly over the hills and commons.

Under the Conservators' existing bylaws, drones can be flown over land owned by the board, as long as they take off and land on private land.

But the board is considering rewriting the rules so that drones cannot fly across Conservators' land at all without specific permission for each flight.

Community and conservation officer Beck Baker said: "We have had reports of drones flying over the hills and commons in ways that could be unsafe or could disturb wildlife.

"In March, our director Duncan Bridges was driving across Castlemorton Common and he saw some people holding an unofficial drone race. They were very close to the road on land which is open access for walkers.

"Drones have also been seen on Malvern Common near to site where skylarks are known to nest."

A report which was due to go before the land management committee last night (Thursday), says drones, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), could pose a risk to hill users, particularly horse riders and hang-gliding enthusiasts.

Under Civil Aviation Authority regulations, drones should not be flown over people, drones carrying cameras should not be flown within 50 metres of people.

"As much of our land is open access, we cannot guarantee an area, even if remote, is completely free of people," says the report.

It also says that wildlife is sensitive to disturbance, with many nesting birds liable to see drones as a threat and abandoning their nests. Cattle and sheep which graze on many parts of the hills and commons are also easily spooked.

The report also says there are legitimate applications for drone technology, such as habitat monitoring, filming and promotional photography, and applications will be considered on a case-by case basis by Conservators' staff.

The ban will not affect unpowered model gliders which are flown from North Hill by members of the Malvern Soaring Association.