A POLICE helicopter scrambled to search for a missing elderly man was twice targeted by troublemakers dazzling the pilot with laser pens.

The helicopter had been searching the Bolton Woods and Bowling areas of Bradford for 76-year-old Brian Gray, who has dementia.

But at 9pm on Sunday, the helicopter crew reported via Twitter that someone had been "persistently shining a laser at us".

Shining laser pens into a helicopter cockpit can be highly dangerous, as it can disorientate the pilot.

One man was arrested by police in the Idle Moor area.

The hunt then got back under way, but at 11.05pm, the crew reported that the aircraft had again been "distracted by male with laser pen".

Officers on the ground then arrested a second man.

Shipley Neighbourhood Policing team took to Facebook to say: "Two males arrested for shining laser pens at the helicopter whilst it was out looking for Brian. Very dangerous and caught on camera by the pilots."

Mr Gray was later found safe and well, with his pet dog, near to Bradford Interchange in the city centre.