Net migration to the UK has risen to 298,000, according to the final set of  figures before the election.

The numbers, for the year ending in September 2014, are now well above the level of migration when David Cameron came to power in 2010.
The Tories, who had promised to get it to below 100,000, said the figures were "disappointing" and blamed a rise in EU migration - and Lib Dem "constraints".
Labour said Mr Cameron's "grand promises" were "now in tatters".
Downing Street said the rise in immigration was driven in part by Britain's economic success relative to its neighbours in the eurozone.
Mr Cameron's official spokesman declined to comment on whether he would repeat his pledge to reduce immigration to "tens of thousands", but said the effort to reduce numbers was "going to be a challenge for the next parliament".
The prime minister vowed to get net migration down to "tens of thousands" each year "no ifs, no buts" in a speech in 2011, adding "that's a promise we made to the British people and it's a promise we are keeping".
Not only is net migration 50,000 higher than when David Cameron became prime minister, but even non-EU migration - which ministers had claimed to have brought under control - is now increasing rapidly.
Given all that you might imagine there should be a good deal of weeping and wailing inside Number 10.
And yet curiously there isn't. Why not?
In part because there is a view that today's news has hardly come as a bolt from the blue. Most people had already factored in that Mr Cameron wasn't going to meet his pledge.
In part because they think voters still believe Mr Cameron is serious about wanting to reduce levels of immigration and has already set already out further plans to curb so-called benefit tourism.
Read more from Norman
Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said the government had been "blown off course by net migration from within the EU, which has more than doubled since 2010".
"We have also been constrained in government by Liberal Democrats who don't have that same aim and focus on reducing net migration," he added.
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC News: "No wonder people don't have trust in the immigration system when they have these kinds of promises being broken."
She said the Conservatives had been wrong to focus on net migration and should have strengthened border controls to tackle illegal immigration, "where enforcement has got worse".
"[Home Secretary] Theresa May's obsession with the target has led her to target valuable university students, who bring billions into Britain whilst doing nothing to make the labour market fairer for local workers, preventing undercutting by exploitative employers or putting in place proper border controls so we can count people in and out to enforce the rules," she said.
UKIP, which campaigns for Britain to leave the EU and wants an Australian-style work permit system, said the government "should be ashamed of its abject failure to keep control of the constantly rising numbers of those arriving here".
The party's migration spokesman Steven Woolfe MEP said: "Migration is one of the top concerns going into this election and it is clear that UKIP is the only party trusted to deal with it."
He told the BBC's Daily Politics that UKIP would bring in a cap of "50,000 for those who have the right to work with the option for permanent residence here". He said that would cut numbers by 167,000 a year.
The party's immigration cap would not stop people coming to study, to seek asylum or to take up fixed short term contracts.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people who come to live in the UK for at least a year and the number who are leaving for at least a year
It peaked at 320,000 in the year to June 2005. At the time of the 2010 election it was 252,000.
The big increase in the latest set of figures was driven by a "statistically significant" rise in immigrants arriving in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Immigration was up to 624,000 in the year to September from 530,000 in the previous 12 months. About 327,000 people emigrated from the UK in the same period.
The increase was driven by a rise in the number of people coming to the UK for work, with experts suggesting the growing strength of the UK economy and job creation had drawn people in.
Oxford University's Migration Observatory's director Madeleine Sumption said: "If the UK's economic performance compared to the rest of the EU had been poor, then we might well have seen net migration fall, but that has not happened."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, whose party opposed the net migration target, said the figures were "very embarrassing for the Conservatives".
"They made a huge fanfare about it and they were warned, warned by me and others privately don't do this it doesn't make any sense," the deputy prime minister told LBC radio.
"They've made a commitment and they have failed spectacularly to deliver it."
Some key points from the latest migration figures include:
Measures introduced by the government to reduce net migration include capping visas for skilled non-EU workers and introducing a minimum income threshold of Â£18,600 for anyone planning to sponsor a non-EU family member, such as a spouse, to come to the UK.
The government has also cracked down on abuses of the student visa system by closing "bogus" colleges.


First Minister Arlene Foster believes Sinn Féin's proposals for an investigation into Northern Ireland's botched heating scheme could work.

But she has continued to reject calls by Sinn Féin and others to step aside while the debacle is investigated.
The flawed Renewable Heating Incentive scheme could cost taxpayers £490m.
Sinn Féin published its proposed terms of reference for an independent investigation into the Renewable Heating Scheme (RHI) on Thursday.
Mrs Foster set up the scheme in 2012 when she was enterprise minister.
It was an attempt by the NI Executive to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources.
But businesses received more in subsidies than they paid for fuel, and the scheme became heavily oversubscribed.
Justice Minister Claire Sugden said on Friday she did "not have the power" to initiate a public inquiry into the scheme.
Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir warned earlier that if Mrs Foster does not step aside temporarily, an election would be inevitable.
When asked on Friday if she would accept the proposals, Arlene Foster replied firmly: "No."
Later, she released a statement saying: "With the exception of the issue of stepping aside, we believe that the proposals provided to us by Sinn Féin provide a basis for taking an investigation forward.
"Officials have raised a number of technical issues in relation to the proposals, however there do not appear to us to be any insuperable obstacles to agreement being reached.
"Other parties have suggested that, rather than the Attorney General appointing a judicial figure, this appointment function be undertaken by the Lord Chief Justice.
"We would be equally comfortable with this proposal."
On Friday evening, Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said there could not be any agreement unless Mrs Foster stepped aside.
However, the DUP has consistently rejected calls for Mrs Foster to step aside.
"We have yet to be notified that our full terms of reference are agreed," Ms Ní Chuilín said.
"Sinn Féin has also made it clear that Arlene Foster needs to stand aside pending a preliminary report from the independent investigation which must have the powers to compel witnesses and evidence."
On Friday, a defiant Mrs Foster posted a picture on Facebook of a guinea pig wearing a pair of pink love-heart shaped glasses below the phrase: "Can't see all the haters when I've got my love glasses on."
Alliance leader Naomi Long responded to the post, saying: "They're not haters, they're taxpayers. And angry ones at that.
"We're in the teeth of a financial crisis, much of it of her making, and the first minister opts for this by way of a response to her critics?"
On Wednesday, Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said he and Mrs Foster had come up with a plan to limit public losses to "effectively zero".
Under the terms of power sharing outlined in the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin and the DUP hold joint office at the head of the Northern Ireland Executive and must both agree on how to investigate the RHI crisis.
Sinn Féin has previously rejected the terms of reference drawn up by the head of the Northern Ireland civil service to investigate the issue.
The party wants the attorney general to appoint a judge to head up the panel.
Emergency legislation would be required to give the investigation the powers to compel witnesses and documentation.
The party said this could be done under accelerated passage; it wants the panel to produce a preliminary report within four weeks and a final report within three months.
"If Arlene Foster wants to do the right thing, then the right thing to do would be to step aside," said Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill.
When asked if any investigation could go ahead without Mrs Foster standing side, she replied: "No".
"The public needs to have confidence and faith that any investigation that takes place is full transparent," she said.
"Our terms of reference clearly sets out a judicial figure, independent of any minister or any of the executive, will take forward an investigation.
"But at the heart of that has to be the issue of compellability, because if they can't compel people and papers, then the investigation's not going to be worth the paper it's written on."
Some hearings could be held in public but that would be up to the panel to decide, added Mrs O'Neill.
His proposal to resolve the botched renewable heating scheme was denounced by Mr Ó Muilleoir as a "sticking plaster"., after the two held talks intended to "clear the air" on Thursday.


Australian shares fell on Tuesday after the government unveiled a set of tough new banking regulations.

The measures follow an inquiry and are aimed at boosting competition and ensuring stronger capital reserves.
The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7% at 5,235.60 points.
The country's four biggest lenders - Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac, ANZ and National Australia Bank - all lost ground, losing as much as 1.6%.
The so-called 'big four' hold a combined market share of more than 80% and have already raised more than 20bn Australian dollars (Â£9.4bn; $14.5bn), but will need to set aside a similar amount over the next two to three years, analysts estimate.
On Tuesday, the Australian government accepted most of the key recommendations of an inquiry that called for more competition and stronger capital reserves for the nation's four major banks.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 moved slightly higher, gaining 0.4% to close at 18,207.15 points.
One big faller on the Japanese market was Takata, the company at the heart of a global scandal over faulty airbags.
Its shares lost 3.4% after US regulators signalled they would expand the massive recall that has already affected more than 19 million vehicles in America.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi followed the Japanese lead, closing up 0.5% at 2,039.36 points.
Exporters like car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai both saw solid gains thanks to a weaker won currency.
China's benchmark index, the Shanghai Composite, recovered Monday's losses after weaker third-quarter growth data had pushed shares lower the previous day.
The mainland index closed up at 1.14% at 3,425.33 points.
In Hong Kong, though, the Hang Seng continued its losses, closing down 0.37% at 22,989.22 points.


Apple is using all of its worldwide network of stores as temporary classrooms this week to teach coding.

The technology firm is using its 468 stores as bases for tutorials in the annual "Hour of Code" project.
Craig Federighi, one of Apple's top executives, says he wants to "set off a spark" in young learners.
He also wants to dispel the geeky image of "solitary" computer programmers, saying "it's an incredibly creative medium, not unlike music".
The Hour of Code is an international project giving people an introductory lesson in computer coding.
It runs in about 180 countries, backed by technology firms and national governments, and last year claimed to have reached more than 100 million people.
It is supported by US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, along with technology figures such as Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson and representatives of Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Amazon.
The Minecraft computer game is producing a special tutorial for the project.
This year Apple is supporting the outreach project with coding workshops, talks from developers and tutorials from software engineers.
Mr Federighi says that when modern lives are so immersed in digital technology, understanding the language of computers has become an essential form of literacy.
"These devices are so much a part of our lives, we have a computer in some form wherever we go, that the ability to create in that medium is as fundamental as the ability to write," he said.
Now Apple's senior vice-president of software engineering, Mr Federighi said he began to experiment with code when he was 10 years old.
"That first moment of realising I could enter some commands in a computer and make it do something was a revelation."
He says programming should be seen as a "language and a way of thinking". And while many young people have a great facility in using devices, he says being able to programme them is the "next level of literacy".
But he says there can be something of an image problem.
"People sometimes have a view of programming that is something solitary and very technical. But programming is among the most creative, expressive and social careers.
"It's an incredibly creative medium, not unlike music, and there's a tremendous cross-over between people who programme and musicians."
In terms of the blame for the "grave injustice" of the geeky image, he said: "It must be how the early programmers dressed."
Mr Federighi says he wants Apple's global chain of  showrooms to be used more often as bases for training and education.
The early roots of Apple, he says, had strong links with education and now computer technology is part of the classroom landscape.
The next phase of how digital technology will be used by students is hard to predict, he says, when "young people move so fluently between different types of device".
But there has been something of a backlash about technology in education.
That included a major report from the OECD highlighting that there was no link between billions spent on educational technology and any improvement in results.
However Mr Federighi  adds: "There's no question in my mind of the value in technology in fuelling young minds.
"Like any other tool, if you simply throw it in the classroom, and don't consider how best to take advantage of that tool, and you try the old ways with a new piece of technology on the desk, it's no panacea.
"But the potential of the technology when well applied is phenomenal."


Britain's Anthony Joshua and Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko have agreed to fight each other, with an announcement expected in a couple of days, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

According to Hearn, the heavyweight fight needs to be sanctioned, with Joshua's IBF belt and potentially the WBA and WBO titles on the line.
"Terms are virtually there," he said.
On Wednesday, Britain's Tyson Fury relinquished his WBA and WBO belts and his boxing licence was then suspended.
The British Boxing Board of Control revoked Fury's licence "pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues", after the 28-year-old admitted he had been taking cocaine to help him deal with depression.
Fury beat Ukraine's Klitschko last November to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles but withdrew from two scheduled rematches.
Britain's undefeated heavyweight champion Joshua, 27, was scheduled to defend his title on 26 November in Manchester.
Hearn says the fight between Joshua and Klitschko will likely be held at the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Hearn added: "The deal between the fighters is there. The financial terms are agreed, there was a problem with US broadcasters but that has been sorted.
"It is now a case of getting the paperwork and the sanctioning in order. Hopefully in a couple of days we will have the official announcement."


Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will retire when his contract expires in the summer.

Alongside a picture of him waving goodbye, the 35-year-old Spain international wrote on Twitter: "Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game."
He won club honours with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern and the World Cup and two European Championships.
Alonso told Bayern's TV channel: "It wasn't an easy decision to make, but I believe it's the right time.
He added: "I always thought it would be better to quit sooner rather than later. I still feel good, but I believe this is the right moment."
Alonso joined Liverpool from Real Sociedad in 2004 and was part of a famous Champions League victory in Istanbul in his first season as the Reds came back from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties. He also claimed an FA Cup, a Uefa Super Cup and a Community Shield during his time at Anfield.
He moved to Real Madrid in 2009 and won a second Champions League as well as the Spanish title before a switch to Germany in 2014, where he has helped Bayern win two Bundesliga titles and reach the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League - courtesy of a 10-2 aggregate win over Arsenal on Tuesday.
Alonso played 114 times for Spain and scored 16 goals as the national side won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, either side of their maiden World Cup triumph in South Africa in 2010. His final appearance for his country came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Scotland backs coach Jason O'Halloran has ruled out the possibility of joining the British and Irish Lions coaching team for the New Zealand tour.

O'Halloran held talks with Lions head coach Warren Gatland over the prospect of working with Rob Howley as a secondary attack coach.
But the Kiwi has opted to focus instead on pre-season with Glasgow, whom he will join at the end of the season.
It follows Gregor Townsend's decision to turn down a role on the Lions staff.
The Warriors head coach, who will replace Vern Cotter as Scotland coach at the end of the season, chose to decline Gatland's invitation to join his back-room team in favour of leading the Scots on their summer tour of Australia.
England forwards coach Steve Borthwick, interim Wales head coach Rob Howley (attack) and Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell have already been confirmed as assistants to Gatland for the three-Test tour next June and July.
O'Halloran is thought to have been tempted by the possibility of a role with the Lions, but felt his Glasgow commitments made it an impossibility.
The New Zealander will work under Townsend's successor Dave Rennie at Warriors, but his compatriot's delayed arrival in Glasgow means O'Halloran and fellow assistant Jonathan Humphreys - also making the move from the national coaching staff to Scotstoun - will effectively have to lead the club's early pre-season schedule.
Depending on the progress of his current side Waikato Chiefs, Rennie could be tied up in New Zealand until 5 August when the Super Rugby final is played.
Gatland spoke on Tuesday about the importance of having a Scottish coach on his staff next summer, and hinted that a lack of Scottish representation could negatively impact their players' chances of making his squad to take on the All Blacks.
"The ideal scenario from my point of view would be having someone from Scotland to give some representation, to push the Scottish cause, to push some of their players," he told BBC Wales.
"That's important. Someone from within the Scottish system will know their players a lot better than we do, they'll know the characters and the individuals and potentially push them on a 50/50 decision.
"My ideal scenario would be to have someone from Scotland. If that happens, that would be great."
With Townsend rejecting an offer to join the tour and O'Halloran ruling himself out of contention, that possibility now appears remote.
Speaking about the possibility of adding further specialist coaches, Gatland added: "I've got one or two people in mind. Hopefully, that can get sorted out early in the New Year.
"I'd spoken to a couple of people originally and they'd made themselves unavailable, which was disappointing but I understand and respect the decisions they've made and the focus that they wanted to have."


Australia's prime minister congratulated Donald Trump on his US election victory after receiving his number from champion golfer Greg Norman.

It enabled Malcolm Turnbull to be the second world leader to contact Mr Trump, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Nicknamed "The Shark", Australian-raised Norman was world number one for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s.
He is a regular golfing partner of the US president-elect.
Australia's ambassador the US reportedly contacted Norman for Mr Trump's contact details within hours of his election victory.
Mr Turnbull described his call with Mr Trump as "very warm, constructive and practical."
It is believed Prime Minister Theresa May was the ninth world leader to congratulate Mr Trump.
On Tuesday, Norman wrote in Newsweek: "I will say that I have spoken to the Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, and he is on-board with wanting to see President-elect Trump succeed."
"Only time will tell, but I am optimistic and feel that it is an interesting and exciting time to be in America."
Mr Turnbull said he discussed the Islamic State group, security in the Asia-Pacific region and trade during his conversation with Mr Trump.
"We stayed in touch with both sides in the election campaign, so that... we were able to get off to a good start with the new administration," Mr Turnbull told radio station Triple M.
"I've already had a good chat with the president-elect and I'm sure the very strong relationship between Australia and America will continue."
Mr Trump briefly mentioned Australia in a Twitter post on Wednesday while rejecting criticism he was not giving enough time to media interviews.
"Australia, New Zealand, and more. I am always available to them. @nytimes is just upset that they looked like fools in their coverage of me," he wrote.
Norman is also friendly with the Clintons. Former US President Bill Clinton injured his knee in 1997 while teeing off with the Australian golfer at his Florida home.
As well as his major wins at Turnberry and Royal St George's, Norman finished runner-up in two US Opens, two US PGAs and three Masters.
In 1996, Norman famously blew a six-shot lead at Augusta to hand victory to England's Nick Faldo.


Celtic have been drawn to face Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach in Champions League Group C.

The Scottish champions reached the group stage by beating Hapoel Beer Sheva 5-4 on aggregate.
They will open their campaign away to Barcelona on Tuesday 13 September.
"It is a great draw - three great teams," said Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney. "That is why we are in the Champions League, to play the best."
After their opener in the Nou Camp, Celtic will host Manchester City on 28 September, before home and away games against Monchengladbach on 19 October and 1 November.  They then entertain Barcelona on 23 November before concluding away to City on 6 December.
Tierney, 19, will be experiencing the group stage for the first time, and is relishing the prospect of confronting Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi
"It is just brilliant to watch [Barcelona], and hopefully I can play against him," the youngster added.
"We are always hopeful. We prepare ourselves right and we do the right work on the training field. Anything can happen."
Celtic have progressed to the last 16 of the competition on three occasions, most recently in season 2012-13.
That season, under Neil Lennon, Celtic beat Barca 2-1 in Glasgow at the group stage but lost by the same scoreline away from home.
The two teams met again in the following season's group stage, the Spanish side winning 1-0 in Glasgow and 6-1 at home.
City - fourth in England's Premier League last season - and German side Monchengladbach have never previously faced Celtic in the competition.
"It could've been easier," Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "There's some real glamour ties in there - some really great nights ahead at Celtic Park.
"I don't think they will be relishing coming to us with the supporters, the atmosphere, the occasion we put on there.
"It couldn't be any more difficult but [manager] Brendan [Rodgers] has got off to a great start. It has been a remarkable first couple of months for him.
"We will attempt to get one more player in before next Wednesday's [transfer] deadline."
Former Barca boss Pep Guardiola took over at City, who reached the semi-finals last season, in the summer while recent Celtic signing Kolo Toure is a former City player whose brother is still at the Manchester club and also once played for Barcelona.
Rodgers, who took over from Ronny Deila in the summer, previously managed Liverpool at this stage of the competition.


Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have been confirmed among 126 riders for the 2016 Tour of Britain, which begins in Glasgow on Sunday.

Wiggins and Cavendish are among eight medallists from the 2016 Olympic Games to be involved, along with Dutch road race silver medallist Tom Dumoulin.
Owain Doull, who won team pursuit gold with GB in Rio and was third in the 2015 Tour of Britain, will also race.
The eight-day event concludes in London on 11 September.
"The field for this year's Tour of Britain is without parallel, with star quality wherever you look among the teams," said race director Mick Bennett.
Thirty-time Tour de France stage winner Cavendish will make his first appearance since winning omnium silver at the Olympics, in a field that also features omnium gold medallist and Team Sky rider Elia Viviani of Italy, as well as the Manxman's sprint rival Andre Greipel of Germany.
Wiggins is joined by Dylan van Baarle as former Tour of Britain winners in the field.
A total of 21 teams will take part, including 11 UCI World Tour outfits, the highest number to have competed in Britain since the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart.
Seven British teams will compete, led by Team Sky and also including Team Wiggins and a Great Britain national team.
The rider list also includes six current national road race champions, led by British champion Adam Blythe, who will ride for Great Britain.
There are also six national time trial champions, including former UCI world hour record holders Alex Dowsett and Rohan Dennis and three-time world time trial champion Tony Martin.


A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a laser beam was shone into the cockpit, Virgin Atlantic has said.

The crew told air traffic control there was a "medical issue" with one of the pilots after the laser hit flight VS025 after take-off at 20:13 GMT on Sunday.
The flight was grounded overnight, and the 252 passengers put up in hotels.
Shining a laser at a plane can be a criminal offence. There have been no arrests, but police are investigating.
Everything you need to know about lasers
'It's only a matter of time until someone dies'
In a recording from the cockpit which was published online, a crew member is heard telling Irish air traffic that the incident took place six to seven miles west of Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic said the flight returned to the west London airport as a "precautionary measure" after the co-pilot reported feeling unwell.
The airline apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused, and said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser.
Passenger Beth McHutchinson told the BBC: "Probably about an hour into the flight we had a tannoy, and it said the second pilot had been shot in the eye with a laser during take-off, and we were going back to Heathrow."
Passengers are due to board an alternative flight at 13:00 GMT on Monday, but some complained about the length of the delay.
Photographer Max Earey tweeted: "So the aircraft lands @10.30 pm but you can't get me out again until 1pm tomorrow! REALLY @VirginAtlantic I'm losing a whole day of my trip."
But Jessica Moore, who was travelling to New York for a holiday with her boyfriend, said she thought the pilots were right to turn around, and Virgin had treated them well.
"Many people on the plane were quite worried they weren't telling us the whole truth, but I didn't think that was the case," she said.
"Obviously it is frustrating to lose a day of our holidays; I am travelling to New York with my boyfriend and we were supposed to stay there for five days."
A new law introduced in 2010 means someone can be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot".
According to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), a laser can result in temporary vision loss associated with flash blindness; a "visual interference that persists after the source of illumination has been removed".
It can also cause an after-image - an "image left in the visual field after exposure to a bright light" - and glare in the cockpit.
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said lasers were "incredibly dangerous", and called for the government to classify them as "offensive weapons".
"This is not an isolated incident. Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength," he said.
"Modern lasers have the power to blind, and certainly to act as a huge distraction and to dazzle the pilots during critical phases of flight."
Janet Alexander, a commercial airline pilot, described the experience as "very like a lightning strike in that it's very instantaneous, very, very bright light, which is dazzling basically".
"And of course if it's targeted in exactly the wrong way you could permanently damage someone's sight."
Between January 2009 and June 2015 more than 8,998 laser incidents across the country were reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
In 2014, there were 1,440 incidents in the UK, with 168 at Heathrow, according to the CAA.
Manchester International airport had the second most in that period, with 107, followed by Birmingham airport with 92 and Leeds Bradford airport with 81.
In the US, CNN reported there were 20 incidents during one night alone in November last year.
Aviation expert Julian Bray said so-called aircraft spotters would play "laser tagging" games, where they would try to shine a beam onto the fuselage of an aircraft.
Such incidents were becoming fairly common, he said, and were "very, very dangerous".
A CAA spokesman said: "We strongly urge anyone who sees a laser being used at night in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately."
In November 2015 it was reported that the eye of a British Airways pilot was damaged by a "military" strength laser which had been shone into the cockpit of his aircraft earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, in 2014 three men from Leicestershire were jailed for using laser pens to dazzle pilots coming in to land at East Midlands Airport.
In one case the pilots' vision was so badly affected they covered the cockpit and landed on instruments alone.


Leigh Centurions prop Sam Barlow has been given a four-year ban from sport for assaulting an anti-doping officer.

An independent panel found him guilty of "tampering with doping control".
Barlow, 28, pleaded guilty in court to assaulting the UK Anti-Doping Agency official, who visited his home in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in July 2015.
The Scotland international released a statement on Wednesday saying he planned to lodge an appeal against his ban at the High Court.
"I remain in the position I am innocent and in no way, shape or form have I failed, refused or avoided a test," Barlow said.
Barlow will be sentenced for common assault at Bradford Crown Court on 30 September.
"We will not tolerate obstructive or threatening behaviour towards any of our personnel," said Ukad chief executive Nicole Sapstead.
"Whilst incidents such as this are rare, the obstruction of the doping control process in any way is, and will be, taken very seriously."
According to The Sun, Barlow's barrister said at an earlier court hearing that his client's actions were "in no way designed to avoid the test".
Barlow joined Leigh in 2014, and has made 50 appearances for the club. Barlow's ban is back-dated to 23 November 2015 and will run until 22 November 2019.
According to evidence heard at the Ukad appeal, anti-doping officer Mark Dean attended Barlow's house at about 21:00 BST on 31 July 2015.
Barlow's ban has been enforced after it was found that he had refused to be tested deliberately, and did not believe that Mr Dean was a burglar.
However, Barlow insists that his actions were in no way related to his willingness to be tested for doping.


YouTube will remove music videos by artists such as Adele, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, because the independent labels to which they belong have refused to agree terms with the site.

Google, which owns YouTube, has been renegotiating contracts as it prepares to launch a music subscription service.
A spokesperson for the indie labels said YouTube was making a "grave error of commercial judgment".
YouTube said it was bringing "new revenue streams" to the music industry.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Robert Kyncl, YouTube's head of content and business operations, said videos from independents could be blocked "in a matter of days," if new licenses are not negotiated.
The three major record labels - Universal, Sony and Warner - have all agreed terms with the site, but smaller independents are holding out.
Some independents say they are being offered "highly unfavourable terms". Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien accused Google of trying to "strong-arm" labels into accepting low fees.
Alison Wenham, who runs the Worldwide Independent Network , which represents the independent music community said YouTube is "making a grave error of commercial judgment in misreading the market".
"We have tried and will continue to try to help YouTube understand just how important independent music is to any streaming service and why it should be valued accordingly," she added.
"By not giving their subscribers access to independent music YouTube is setting itself up for failure... The vast majority of independent labels around the world are disappointed at the lack of respect and understanding shown by YouTube."
BPI, the organisation which represents British record companies - including the three major labels - said it was wrong for YouTube, which is the dominant online video platform, to "threaten to ostracise certain independents".
Chief executive Geoff Taylor said the move would end up "denying fans the opportunity to hear their music, and labels and artists the chance to earn a living from it - because they are unwilling to surrender to a take it or leave it ultimatum."
Impala, a body which represents the labels -  including XL Recordings, 4AD, Cooking Vinyl and Domino - has appealed to the European Commission for help with its battle against YouTube.
The BBC understands that even if blocks do go ahead, content from artists signed to independent labels will remain available on YouTube via channels such as Vevo.
Videos which are exclusively licensed by independent record labels, such as acoustic sets or live performances, may be taken down.
A YouTube spokesman told the BBC: "Our goal is to continue making YouTube an amazing music experience, both as a global platform for fans and artists to connect, and as a revenue source for the music industry.
"We're adding subscription-based features for music on YouTube with this in mind - to bring our music partners new revenue streams in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars YouTube already generates for them each year.
"We are excited that hundreds of major and independent labels are already partnering with us."
YouTube's entry into the music subscription market comes after Amazon launched a similar service for its Prime members, and Apple bought online music service Beats Music.


Hospitals in England continue to miss many of their waiting time targets, official figures for November show.

Ambulances, the 111 phone service and cancer services all missed key targets.
And A&Es only managed to see 91.3% of patients in four hours - the worst performance in November since record-keeping began in 2010.
Meanwhile, the six-week target for diagnostic tests to be done was missed. It is now two years since it was last met.
Significant problems were also being experienced by hospitals in discharging some patients. There were over 153,000 days of delays, the second highest on record. Delays are experienced when there are not the community services available to care for vulnerable patients who are medically fit to leave hospital.
But hospitals did manage to hit their 18-week waiting time target for routine operations, such as hip and knee replacements.
Hospitals have been struggling with many of these targets for the past year or so - and similar challenges are being experienced by the health systems in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The November figures released by NHS England showed:
Special report page: For the latest news, analysis and video
Nurse viewpoint: Why working in A&E is like a complex game of chess
Winter across the UK:  A guide to how the NHS is coping
Video: Why hospitals are under so much pressure
Video: How a hospital can grind to a halt
Richard Barker, of NHS England, said the performance needed to be seen in context of the rising number of patients needing care with "particularly large increases" being seen in the numbers getting diagnostic tests, needing ambulances and making calls to the 111 service.
And he added: "We continue to treat more than nine out of 10 A&E patients within four hours, probably the best performance of any major western country."
But Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think-tank, said: "These new figures are particularly worrying given that they only cover November, when the weather was exceptionally mild and winter had not even properly begun - the fact that there have been such dips in performance so early in the season does not leave the health service in a good position to cope with the rest of winter."
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has told fugitive former CIA-analyst Edward Snowden to stop leaking US secrets if he wants to remain in the country.

He said Moscow had never extradited anyone before and "has no intention to do so", adding Mr Snowden was free to go if granted asylum elsewhere.
Edward Snowden, 30, is believed to be holed up in a Moscow airport hotel.
The US wants to prosecute him over the leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents.
The leaks have led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.
At the weekend, Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper and Britain's The Guardian newspaper publicised allegations that the US has been spying on its EU allies.
The revelations have angered many EU countries which are demanding a response from Washington.
French President Francois Hollande has warned that negotiations over a major EU-US trade deal planned for next week could be threatened unless Washington can guarantee the spying stops "immediately".
"Russia never hands over anybody anywhere and has no intention to do so," Mr Putin told a news conference in Moscow.
"If he (Snowden) wants to remain here there is one condition - he should stop his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners no matter how strange this may sound coming from me."
This is the clearest indication yet, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow, that Mr Putin is keen to avoid damaging relations with Washington over the Snowden case.
The Russian president also stressed Mr Snowden "is not our agent and does not co-operate with us", and Russian secret services "never worked with him and are not working with him now".
Earlier, senior Russian official Nikolai Patrushev said both President Putin and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, had told the chiefs of their security services to seek a resolution to the stand-off over Mr Snowden.
Mr Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, told Russian media that the FSB and the FBI had been told to "keep in contact and find solutions", but warned there was no simple solution to the situation. The FBI refused to comment.
Mr Putin was speaking at the same time President Obama confirmed to reporters that Washington had held "high level" discussions with Russia about Mr Snowden.
"We don't have an extradition treaty with Russia," he told reporters while on a visit to Tanzania.
"On the other hand, Mr Snowden, we understand, has travelled there without a valid passport and legal papers. And we are hopeful the Russian government makes decisions based on the normal procedures regarding international travel and the normal interactions law enforcement have."


A pizza delivery driver was killed in a "frenzied" knife attack by two men trying to steal his phone, a court heard.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, "bled to death" in his car in Southey Crescent in Sheffield on 27 October.
Shamraze Khan, 26, of Southey Crescent, pleaded not guilty to Mr Peiris' murder at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday.
Kasim Ahmed, 18, of Main Road, Darnall, pleaded guilty to murder and will be sentenced later this month.
Mr Peiris was working as a Domino's Pizza delivery driver after graduating in IT from Sheffield Hallam University and was due to start his "dream job" shortly after he was stabbed in the chest and killed.
The court heard the defendants carried out a knife robbery at Castle Market in Sheffield earlier that day, where they had stolen two mobile phones.
The men attacked Mr Peiris that evening to steal his phone, the court was told.
"They took the keys of his car and and left him to bleed to death in the driver's seat," the prosecution said.
After his arrest, Mr Khan told police he saw Mr Ahmed pull out a knife and stab Mr Peiris in a "frenzied attack", but claimed he did not know he was carrying a weapon.
He said he was unable to stop him, but did not encourage or take part in the attack.
But the prosecution claimed both men were carrying knives that night and were jointly responsible for the attack and guilty of murder.
Mr Peiris, originally from Sri Lanka, was described as "friendly and gentle" by his family.
The trial continues.


A Tunisian soldier has been shot dead after he killed seven of his colleagues at a military barracks in Tunis, according to the defence ministry.

Ten others were wounded, one seriously, in the attack at a flag-raising ceremony at the Bouchoucha barracks.
The man had family and psychological issues and was "forbidden from carrying arms", said ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati.
He described the incident as an "isolated act, not a terrorist act".
There would be an investigation to try to determine the killer's motives, he added.
Mr Ouselati said the soldier attacked one man with a knife before taking the victim's gun and "shooting at his comrades".
Tunisian security forces have been on alert since Islamist gunmen attacked the Bardo Museum in March, killing 21 tourists.
The shooting at the barracks, which is close to the museum and the parliament building, prompted the evacuation of a nearby school.
Police reinforcements were sent to the area to comb nearby streets, while a helicopter hovered overhead.
Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui said on national radio that there was no gunfire outside the barracks.


As many as 2,400 properties in the social housing stock could be occupied fraudulently, the Northern Ireland Audit Office has said.

A report suggested the problem was "significant" and that "dedicated strategies" were required to tackle the issue.
Between them, the Housing Executive and about 30 local housing associations manage 123,000 properties.
Tenancy fraud is the use of social housing by someone not entitled to it.
The fraud can include giving false information on an application, or obtaining the property and selling the keys to someone else for a one-off payment.
Tenants can also move out and give the property over to a friend or family member, allowing them to "queue jump" the waiting list of 40,000 people.
The Audit Office said there was also a cost to the public purse, given that in 2012 the Northern Ireland Housing Executive spent more than Â£10m providing temporary accommodation to those classed as homeless.
Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said: "Public funded housing occupied by individuals not entitled to be there is illegal, immoral and unacceptable.
"Such fraud deprives those families most in need of a decent home."
Until recently, the Housing Executive did not have a dedicated tenancy fraud strategy and relied on tip-offs and the vigilance of staff.
The Audit Office made a number of recommendations, like establishing a fraud team between the Housing Executive and housing associations.
The Housing Executive may also improve photographic records of tenants.
In a statement, the Housing Executive said it "welcomes the publication of the report in tenancy fraud by the Northern Ireland Audit Office".
"The Housing Executive will now work with the Department of Social Development and housing associations to ensure that the recommendations are implemented and incorporated in our approach to tackling tenancy fraud."


Apple conspired with publishers to fix the prices of electronic books, a US federal appeals court has ruled.

In a 2-1 vote, the court said Apple broke antitrust laws when it entered an e-book market which was then dominated by Amazon.
Circuit Judge Debra Ann Livingston said the price-fixing meant Apple "found an easy path to opening its iBookstore".
"While we want to put this behind us, the case is about principles and values," Apple said.
"We know we did nothing wrong back in 2010 and are assessing next steps."
The US Justice Department said publishers involved in the conspiracy included Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster.
The department said that the price collusion meant that some e-book prices rose from $9.99 to up to $14.99.
However, in a dissenting opinion, the judge who upheld Apple's appeal said the company's entry into the e-book market was pro-competitive as it challenged Amazon, which controlled about 90% of the sector.
"Apple took steps to compete with a monopolist and open the market to more entrants, generating only minor competitive restraints in the process," Judge Dennis Jacobs wrote.
The appeal followed a 2013 decision by US District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan that Apple played a "central role" in a conspiracy with publishers to eliminate retail price competition and raise e-book prices.
The Justice Department and 33 states and territories originally sued Apple and five publishers. The publishers all settled and signed consent decrees prohibiting them from restricting e-book retailers' ability to set prices.


Detectives investigating the murder of a mother of three in Liverpool are appealing for information on the 10th anniversary of her death.

Lucy Hargreaves was 22 when she was killed at her home in Walton on 3 August 2005.
Three men entered her house while she slept on the sofa, shot her and then set fire to the building.
Police have released images of a man they want to trace in connection with the murder.
Ms Hargreaves' partner and toddler daughter escaped the fire by jumping from an upstairs window.
Detectives continue to search for Kevin Thomas Parle, 35, who they believe is living abroad.
Det Ch Insp Mark Tivendale said: "Ten years on, this murder remains one of the most brutal and callous acts we have ever seen on Merseyside.
"Even as a toddler was heard crying upstairs, the offenders poured petrol around the living room and hallway and set fire to the house."
There is a European warrant out for Mr Parle's arrest in relation to the death of teenager Liam Kelly.
The 16-year-old was murdered in the early hours of 19 June 2004 as he got out of a car in Grafton Street, Dingle.
A number of images of what Mr Parle may look like now have been released.
"Lucy was an innocent victim and 10 years on, her family deserve answers for the loving mother and daughter they were robbed of," Det Ch Insp Tivendale said.
Detectives are also appealing for information about a gold Lexus car with the registration NAD 499. The car was found burnt out in Richard Kelly Drive, Clubmoor shortly after the murder.


Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said football does not have a problem with racism on the field and any incidents should be settled by a handshake.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The Football Association is probing two cases of  in England.
"There is no racism [on the field], but maybe there is a word or gesture that is not correct," Blatter told CNN. "The one affected by this should say this is a game and shake hands."
The 75-year-old later said his comments had been misunderstood.
"I would like to make it very clear, I am committed to the fight against racism and any type of discrimination in football and in society," Blatter said in a statement.
"I have been personally leading this battle against racism in football, which Fifa has been fighting through campaigns such as Say No to Racism."
The Swiss added: "My comments have been misunderstood. What I wanted to express is that, as football players, during a match, you have battles with your opponents and sometimes things are done which are wrong.
"But, normally, at the end of the match, you apologise to your opponent if you had a confrontation during the match, you shake hands, and when the game is over, it is over."
In his original interview, Blatter had appeared to downplay the extent of racism in the modern game.
Asked whether he thought racism on the pitch was a problem, Blatter told CNN World Sport: "I would deny it. There is no racism.
"There is maybe one of the players towards another - he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one.
"But the one who is affected by that, he should say: 'This is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands.' And this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination."
Blatter's comments , with England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeting: "Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter's comments on racism in football wrong....if not then I am astonished."
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, former Tottenham Hotspur striker Garth Crooks was equally critical of Blatter's remarks.
"Clearly Sepp Blatter is a man who's never suffered from racism," he said. "I'm shocked and somewhat dismayed."
This is one of Sepp Blatter's worst gaffes, without a doubt. On the day that Blatter says there is no racism in football, the FA has charged Luis Suarez with just that. The FA is taking a tough stance on racism and this could lead to a lengthy ban, potentially. If someone is found guilty of racial abuse the FA will, I'm sure, throw the book at them.
Piara Powar, executive director of the Football Against Racism in Europe network, also condemned Blatter's comments.
"You just don't expect the world leader of football to be coming out with comments that seem ill-thought-out, [and] insensitive," he said.
"To say that something as serious as racial abuse between players can be settled with a handshake is incorrect and not the sort of thing footballers at an amateur level, at a pro level - at any level - will want to hear from football's leader."
The remarks from the Fifa president, who has led football's world governing body since 1998 and was re-elected this year, come on the same day as Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was charged by the FA for alleged racist comments towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
The accusation is denied by the Uruguayan and his club say he will plead not guilty to the FA charge.
England and Chelsea captain John Terry is also facing FA and police investigations following allegations that he used a racist slur towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in a match at Loftus Road in October. He denies the claim.


A venture capital firm has appointed a computer algorithm to its board of directors.

The program - called Vital - will vote on whether to invest in a specific company or not.
The firm it will be working for - Deep Knowledge Ventures -  focuses on drugs for age-related diseases.
It said that Vital would make its recommendations by sifting through large amounts of data.
The algorithm looks at a range of data when making decisions - including financial information, clinical trials for particular drugs, intellectual property owned by the firm and previous funding.
"On first sight, it looks like a futuristic idea but on reflection it is really a little bit of publicity hype," said Prof Noel Sharkey of the University of Sheffield.
"A lot of companies use large data search to access what is happening on the market, then the board or trusted workers can decide on the advice.
"With financial markets, algorithms are delegated with decisions. The idea of the algorithm voting is a gimmick. It is not different from the algorithm making a suggestion and the board voting on it."
According to Deep Knowledge Ventures, Vital has already approved two investment decisions.
The software was developed by UK-based Aging Analytics.


A former Venezuelan state governor, Pablo Perez, says he has been barred from holding public office for 10 years.

Mr Perez is the third opposition politician to be disqualified in the past week.
The state prosecutor's office barred a former congresswoman, Maria Corina Machado, and a former mayor, Vicencio (Enzo) Scarano for 12 months.
Both were expected to run in December's parliamentary elections.
Mr Perez was not running for parliament.
It was not clear on what grounds he was barred, but he was given 15 days to appeal against the decision.
"Another attack against democratic dissidence", he wrote on social media.
The opposition says the government of President Nicolas Maduro is clamping down on the opposition ahead of December's elections.
Opinion polls have suggested the government could lose the vote.
The state prosecutor's office has in the past barred politicians from office for alleged corruption or lack of full disclosure in their wealth declarations.


A prosthetic arm that allows children to design their own Lego accessories has won an innovation award in Paris.

The IKO Creative Prosthetic System won the Grand Prix award at digital technology summit Netexplo.
Lego attachments, including a remote-control digger, fit on to the battery-powered arm and 3D-printed socket.
Creator Carlos Arturo Torres, a former intern at Lego's Future Lab research department, hopes to secure investment for its development this year.
He told the BBC: "I'm super happy with it.
"I wasn't expecting the Grand Prix.
"As a Colombian, you grow up with the arms conflict and we are so aware of people losing limbs or having difficulties because of war."
Mr Torres hopes children will work together to design their own attachments.
"When I was at Lego, I realised how social toys can be," he said.
Mr Torres estimates the prosthetic will sell for $5,000 (Â£3,500) with a fee of $1,000 for each 3D-printed sockets, bought as the wearer grows out of the old ones.
Jo Dixon, national co-ordinator at Children's charity Reach, said using cheaper materials in the construction of prosthetics made them "far more affordable" for children and easier to maintain.
"The popularity of the new, simple 3D versions, including a build-your-own Lego kit, with their robotic appearance and bespoke colours means that they can help to increase self-confidence," she told the BBC.
"[This can] help with the acceptance of difference rather than being a functional replacement hand."


Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says the club's next accounts, due to be released in October, will show "a significant loss for last season".

The deficit has been partly caused by the Swans' increased wage bill, which has since been reduced this summer.
But the losses are not thought to have directly affected the club's transfer activity, with funds available to head coach Francesco Guidolin.
"I am happy with the squad I have available," Guidolin said.
"There is plenty of quality there and the club has done well to allow me to do my job in the right way.
"I am confident we can and will have a good season."
An American consortium, led by Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, bought a controlling stake of 68% in the club in July.
The 2015-16 losses contributed to the eagerness of Swansea's existing directors to attract additional investment.
Some of Swansea's highest earners have left this summer, with Ashley Williams joining Everton, Andre Ayew moving to West Ham and Bafetimbi Gomis signing for Marseille on loan.
The Swans have signed strikers Borja Baston - for a club-record £15m fee - and Fernando Llorente, as well as midfielder Leroy Fer, defenders Mike van der Hoorn and Alfie Mawson and goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
Swansea failed to make any further additions on transfer deadline day, though chairman Jenkins defended the club's business.
"The team has been in transition over the last year or two, with a number of players who have been the bedrock of our success in first achieving and then maintaining our Premier League status moving on for different reasons," he said.
"That transition, which happens to all clubs and proved the downfall of many, has to be managed.
"The recent majority shareholder takeover will help us secure that future, which is one of the reasons they came on board.
"Our accounts are due out next month and it will highlight a significant loss for last season.
"That's why we always have to strike a balance to work financially within the budgets we have."


Thailand's attorney-general has filed criminal charges against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over a controversial rice subsidy scheme.

If found guilty on the charge of negligence, she could be jailed for up to 10 years.
The anti-corruption agency has also called for her to be personally liable for losses to state coffers.
Ms Yingluck was removed by a court in May 2014, shortly before the military ousted her elected government.
She was later impeached over the rice subsidy scheme and banned from politics for five years. Thailand, meanwhile, remains under martial law in the wake of the coup.
Ms Yingluck was not at Bangkok's Supreme Court to hear the indictment.
But the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says today's court filing will seem to her supporters like yet another attempt by the military to crush her politically for whenever Thailand does return to democratic rule.
Under the rice subsidy scheme Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai-led government bought rice from Thai farmers at above the market rate, costing the government billions of dollars.
Critics accused Ms Yingluck of funnelling money to her core supporters. She said the policy was aimed at helping farmers and denied any day-to-day involvement in the running of the scheme.
The Supreme Court will decide on 19 March whether to pursue the criminal case.
Additionally, Finance Minister Sommai Phasee said on Wednesday that the ministry had received a letter from the national corruption watchdog urging it to pursue civil suit against Ms Yingluck to recover losses of 600bn baht ($18.4bn; Â£11.9bn) related to the scheme.
"The finance ministry oversees damages to the state and is ready to take action," he said.
The military seized power in May 2014 in what it said was a bid to restore public order after months of occasionally violent street protests against Ms Yingluck's government.
But Thailand has been embroiled in a cycle of political instability since the military ousted Ms Yingluck's brother, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, as prime minister in 2006.
The Shinawatra family are hugely popular among Thailand's rural population but are hated by the urban middle-class and elite who accuse them of corruption.
Thaksin-linked parties, under various different names, have won every election since 2001.


Tourism chiefs are planning a marketing campaign in America as they look to exploit the "great buzz" created by the new Borders to Edinburgh railway.

VisitScotland will follow it up with promotional activity in Germany early next year.
It said the route - officially opened by the Queen last week - had received coverage by media worldwide.
It hopes it can "breathe new life" into the economies of Midlothian and the Borders and help Scotland as a whole.
Mike Cantlay, who chairs VisitScotland, said the start of services was "not only a historic moment for Scotland" but also "a truly global affair" with an audience of millions.
"The magical Scottish Borders is one of Scottish tourism's greatest assets with its rich heritage and beautiful and inspiring landscape," he said.
"The Borders Railway, which delves deep into Sir Walter Scott country, presents a huge opportunity for Scottish tourism to breathe new life into the area, touching on every industry, business and community."
Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said the railway would "open up a unique and iconic part of the country to visitors".
"Having been there myself at the official opening on Wednesday to sample the atmosphere and feel-good factor I have no doubt that the new line will serve as a catalyst for major investment in the area," he said.
"Not only is the Borders Railway a success by the scale of its ambition, but also for bringing together communities, councils, and government to deliver a challenging infrastructure project both on time and on budget.
"Such vision and collaboration means that the Borders has become a symbol of the renaissance of our railways in Scotland."
Danny Cusick, who chairs the Borders Railway Blueprint Leaders Group, said it hoped to "maximise the economic benefits" of the new rail connection between Edinburgh and Tweedbank.
A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson added: "There's a great buzz about the Borders Railway, particularly after such a successful opening weekend, with more than 2,500 journeys last Sunday alone - the first day of passenger rail services to and from Tweedbank.
"We're pleased to be working with Scottish Rail Preservation Society to run our first-ever steam trains.
"These are proving popular with customers and helping boost the Borders economy.
"Due to the huge demand, we added extra carriages to 16 of our 17 Borders steam trains, with these additional tickets selling out within a week."


Midwives in Northern Ireland staged a four-hour strike from 08:00 BST and 12:00 BST on Thursday in a pay dispute.

The strike is over a 1% pay rise that was awarded last year to all midwives in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Department of Health said officials worked to ensure a safe service was provided during the stoppage.
It said midwives in Northern Ireland had the same settlement as colleagues in England.
"While we would like to be in a position to have done more in 2014/15, it is important to recognise midwives and other non-medical staff received a minimum of 1% extra with the average rise through incremental progression being 3.7% and some staff receiving 6.7% more," a spokesperson said.
While the most senior midwives in Northern Ireland got the rise in a one-off payment last March, those on lower pay bands did not.
Instead, most received the annual uplift of around Â£1,500.
According to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), all midwives should receive the 1% increase like elsewhere in the UK, regardless of their band, as well as the uplift in salary that is built in to the pay system.
It has emerged that talks resumed on Tuesday between the Department of Health and some of the health unions.
While those negotiations have been described as positive, further industrial action is planned, including claiming for all overtime.
Amy Leversidge of the RCM said the department was "being cheeky" to suggest that midwives in Northern Ireland had received the same pay rise as their English colleagues.
She said staff on higher pay bands had received a 1% "temporary uplift" to their basic pay in February, but at the start of the financial year in April, their pay went back to 2013 levels.
Incremental progression based on experience and performance was a part of the NHS pay structure rather than a pay rise, the union's employment relations adviser said.
"We don't want to wait until February 2016 to find out what's happening - we want to negotiate a solution now," she said.
Midwife Hazel McAllister told the BBC: "We are not any less passionate, caring or hard-working than colleagues in other parts of the UK who have gained this 1% pay rise.
"We feel very undervalued by the powers-that-be who have refused to pay this.
"I have been a midwife for 37 years - it's a fantastic profession but I would worry about its future."


A teenage soldier found dead at the Deepcut Army base in Surrey 20 years ago took an overdose three years earlier, an inquest has heard.

Cheryl James was treated in hospital after taking "six-to-eight" painkillers in 1992 after the death of her cousin, her father told the hearing.
Des James viewed it as a cry for help at a tough time for the family.
The family's lawyer said the death of 18-year-old Pte James may not have been self-inflicted.
Pte James, from Denbighshire, was found shot dead at the base in November 1995 - one of four deaths of recruits at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.
The army said the bullet wound to her head was self-inflicted, but in 1995 a coroner recorded an open verdict.
Mr James, the first person to testify at the new inquest, granted by the High Court in 2014 as a result of the emergence of new evidence, told the coroner he hoped for a "thorough" investigation into his daughter's death.
"As long as at the end of the inquest I'm able to feel confident everything that could be done has been done, I would be satisfied," he said.
Mr James was involved in sharp exchanges with a barrister representing Surrey Police, during which it emerged his daughter had taken six-to-eight paracetamol while at school following the death of her cousin, Rob, in 1992.
He said: "I guess there was an assumption that it was a cry for help and it became a part of what we were all going through."
Mr James also said he had been unaware until after the first inquest of letters from his daughter saying she had wanted to leave the Army.
The Woking Coroner's Court hearing also heard Pte James had been the victim of an alleged rape by two boys when she was 14.
Who were the Deepcut four? Background to the deaths and timeline of events
Mr James told the inquest he and his wife Doreen were not aware of the alleged rape at the time.
"All my wife knew was she wanted to get the morning-after pill," he said. "The alleged assault was something we found out about a lot later."
Earlier, the family's barrister said there was evidence there might have been a "third-party involvement" in Pte James's death.
Alison Foster QC, acting of behalf of human rights organisation Liberty and representing Pte James's family, said: "Now there is distinguished pathological evidence showing that the shot that killed Cheryl James may not have been self-inflicted.
But John Beggs QC, acting for Surrey Police, dismissed such claims as speculative.
He questioned Mr James's assertion that the police investigation had been cursory.
He said the force had been dealing with a serial rapist and the search for schoolgirl Milly Dowler at the same time as looking again at Cheryl's death in 2002.
And he asked him: "Did it ever occur to you that you yourself may have been distracting Surrey Police?"
Coroner Brian Barker QC intervened, saying he was not happy with the line of questioning.
Earlier in the hearing, Mr Beggs said evidence that Pte James was a "troubled young lady who might have had suicidal thoughts " had "intensified" since Nicholas Blake QC's review of the case.
He said the review, in 2006, had heard Pte James had talked about the death of another recruit, Pte Sean Benton, while on lone guard duty and she had "mentioned shooting herself around this time".
"She had personal problems in her private life to resolve," he said. "There was an absence of any reason why this popular young woman would be subjected to an attack by another."
The inquest is expected to last up to seven weeks and hear evidence from more than 100 people.


Owen Smith has vowed to rewrite part of Labour's constitution to put tackling inequality at its heart, as he launched his bid to be party leader.

He said Labour must strive to reduce the gap between "haves and have-nots", with all policies tested against that benchmark.
Mr Smith, who joins Angela Eagle in challenging leader Jeremy Corbyn, also said he was the one to unite the party.
Speaking to Labour members, he vowed the party would not split on his watch.
Mr Corbyn has vowed to fight the challengers in the upcoming contest, which was prompted after the leader lost a vote of no confidence among Labour MPs by 172 votes to 40.
Formally launching his leadership campaign in his Pontypridd constituency, Mr Smith said: "I say it is time for us in words to commit ourselves by rewriting Clause IV of the Labour Party's constitution... to put tackling inequality right at the heart of everything that we do.
"Every Labour policy has to be tested against that benchmark - is it going to reduce inequalities in wealth, in power, in outcomes and opportunities, or is it not?
"And if it is not going to reduce those inequalities, then we in the Labour Party should not do it."
Clause IV is the part of the Labour Party's written constitution that sets out the aims and values of the party. It was amended in 1995 by Tony Blair to remove its historic commitment to mass nationalisation.
What is Clause IV?
The Welsh MP and former shadow work and pensions secretary Mr Smith repeatedly praised Mr Corbyn's influence on the party and endorsed his anti-austerity agenda.
But he said too many working people had doubts and concerns that they felt were not being addressed, as he warned that Labour was "not on the pitch" in British political debate.
Mr Smith argued that the party needed to "put in place the policies that allow us to illustrate what prosperity looks like".
He outlined plans to:
Speaking earlier to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Smith also vowed to increase the top rate of tax, to 50p, saying a more "progressive" tax system was needed.
Explaining his reason for standing, Mr Smith said it was to ensure that the party "cannot split" - as he pitched himself as the candidate that could "unite" Labour.
"There is a clear and present danger that some in our party are getting fatalistic about the prospect of that split.
"It cannot happen. It will not happen. If I've got anything to do with it, never on my watch will this party split."


Second-from-bottom Huddersfield Giants put in an impressive performance to beat St Helens at St James' Park.

The Giants scored three tries in seven minutes through Jermaine McGillvary, Ukuma Ta'ai and Jamie Ellis.
Matty Dawson replied for Saints before the break but scores from McGillvary, Sam Rapira and Murphy made it 34-6.
Jack Owens, Theo Fages and Adam Swift scored either side of Danny Brough's penalty to give Saints hope but Ryan Hincliffe and Kyle Wood sealed victory.
St Helens came into Magic Weekend having won three of their last four games, knowing that a win would have put them level on points with the teams in second place.
After a pointless first 20 minutes, Keiron Cunningham's side found themselves 16-0 down and it took until the 36th minute for them to get on the scoreboard.
Giants winger McGillvary then posted his 13th try of the season within seconds of the restart.
And, despite a brief wobble following scores from Owens and Fages, Giants looked in control throughout as they secured a fourth win in six matches, including two over champions Leeds.
Paul Anderson's side will now be looking to make a charge towards the top eight with eight games of the regular season to play.
St Helens boss Keiron Cunningham:
"I thought we actually started the better of the two teams but we couldn't hang in there for long enough periods.
"I'm not overly disappointed with the team. There are very fine margins in rugby league and, if you are consistently not good for the full 80 minutes, you lose the energy battle and you get results like this.
"It's just happening too often for us. That's the disappointing thing. But there is still a long way to go in the season. The top four and the top eight is up for grabs for anybody. All we need to do is find some consistency."
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson:
"It was probably the most experienced team we've had out all year. I just felt going back to experience was probably the right thing to do.
"It's been coming for a while. We've been building and even though we lost at Catalans last week, the performance with a young team was pretty good. We're a good team and today we showed some real patience.
"Saints asked a lot of questions and caused us some problems. I'm just happy with our resolve in a big game and on a big stage. But we won't fall in love with ourselves. We need to keep improving."
St Helens: McDonnell, Owens, Wellington, Dawson, Swift, Fages, Walsh, Tasi, Roby, Amor, Wilkin, Vea, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Replacements: Turner, Walmsley, Savelio, Knowles.
Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy, Brough, Ellis, Crabtree, Hinchcliffe, Mason, Wardle, Ta'ao, Lawrence.
Replacements: Wood, Rapira, Roberts, Ikahihifo.
Referee: Ben Thaler (RFU).


Gillian Flynn, author of the bestseller Gone Girl, is to write a new twist on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Flynn is the latest author to be commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare project to rewrite the Bard's works.
The series launches in 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.
"Hamlet has long been a fascination of mine: murder, betrayal, revenge, deceit, madness â€’ all my favourite things," Flynn said.
"Add to that some of Shakespeare's most intriguing, curious characters â€’ from the titular brooding prince to rueful Ophelia â€’ and what (slightly cheeky) writer wouldn't be tempted to reimagine it?"
Flynn joins a previously announced list of novelists on the Shakespeare project.
Margaret Atwood is taking on The Tempest, Tracy Chevalier Othello, Howard Jacobson The Merchant of Venice, Jo Nesbo Macbeth, Anne Tyler The Taming of the Shrew and Jeanette Winterson The Winter's Tale.
The publication date for Flynn's Hamlet novel is yet to be announced.
Gone Girl, the American author's third novel, was published in 2012. It has sold more than six million copies.
A film adaptation, directed by David Fincher, and starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, is released in October.


Rochdale have signed midfielder Keith Keane on an 18-month deal after leaving Cambridge United by mutual consent.

The 30-year-old ex-Luton and Preston man spent the first half of this season on loan at Dale, making 17 appearances for the League One side.
Keane featured just six times for Cambridge United after joining them in May 2015.
As well as Keane, Elliot Omozusi has also left League Two side Cambridge by mutual consent.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Burundi, one of the world's poorest nations, is struggling to emerge from a 12-year, ethnic-based civil war.

Since independence in 1962 it has been plagued by tension between the usually-dominant Tutsi minority and the Hutu majority.
The ethnic violence sparked off in 1994 made Burundi the scene of one of Africa's most intractable conflicts.
10.4m population - similar to Belgium
27,816 sq km area - similar to Haiti
50 years life expectancy for men
50 years life expectancy for women
$900 GDP per capita - similar to Liberia
Pierre Nkurunziza, a former Hutu rebel leader, became the first president to be chosen in democratic elections since the start of Burundi's civil war in 1994.
In 2015 Burundi was plunged into its worst crisis since the end of a civil war in 2005, when Mr Nkurunziza's ultimately successful bid for re-election to a third term sparked protests by opposition supporters who said the move was unconstitutional.
Operating in a turbulent political climate, Burundi's media are subject to self-censorship and occasional government censorship.
In June 2013 President Nkurunziza approved a new media law which critics condemned as an attack on press freedom. The law forbids reporting on matters that could "undermine national security, public order or the economy".
Some key dates in Burundi's history:
1890 - The kingdoms of Urundi and neighbouring Ruanda (Rwanda) incorporated into German East Africa.
1916 - Belgian army occupies the area.
1962 - Urundi is separated from Ruanda-Urundi and becomes independent.
1993 - Ethnic conflict claims some 300,000 lives.
2015 - Unrest sparked by president's plans to stand for third term.


Los Angeles police are investigating after a Playboy model publicly shared a photograph of another woman naked in a gym changing room.

Captioning it "If I can't unsee this then you can't either", Dani Mathers posted the image beside one of herself covering her mouth in mock disgust.
She later apologised, saying she thought her Snapchat post had been a private conversation.
Sharing a person's naked image without their consent is illegal in California.
If found guilty, Ms Mathers could face a fine or a short prison sentence. A sexual assault division of the LA police department is investigating and looking for the woman who was photographed.
Ms Mathers has been permanently banned from the chain of gyms, has lost her job on a radio show, and has faced widespread criticism online.
After deleting the image, Ms Mathers posted an apology on Snapchat in a series of videos, saying her actions had been "absolutely wrong".
"I have chosen to do what I do for a living because I love the female body and I know that body shaming is wrong and that's not what I'm about, it's not the type of person that I am," wrote the model, who was named Playmate of the Year in 2015.


The interim leader of Central African Republic has told the BBC that delayed elections must be held in the troubled country before the end of this year.

"There is no alternative for us because we cannot stay indefinitely in a transitional process," Catherine Samba-Panza told the BBC.
However, she admitted the security situation was far from ideal.
The CAR has been wracked by violence since a mainly Muslim rebel group, Seleka, seized power in March 2013.
Seleka has since been forced out of the capital Bangui but still control some parts of the country.
President Samba-Panza told the BBC's Newsday programme that people are keen to vote and "95% of eligible voters have already registered".
"The objective of this transition is to take this country to elections because this is the only way out for us," she said.
Fresh clashes between Christians and Muslims in the capital, Bangui, in September forced the authorities to postpone the elections scheduled in October.
They are now due on 13 December.
But she warned that "politicians and enemies of peace are trying to stop that".
She did not name them but has previously accused both former Seleka leader Michel Djotodia and the man he replaced as CAR President, Francois Bozize, of stirring up trouble.


A majority of people in Britain support tax rises as a way of funding the NHS, a poll suggests.

The Ipsos MORI survey of nearly 1,800 people for the Health Foundation think tank found 85% thought the NHS should be protected from cuts - significantly more than other public services.
When presented with a range of options setting out how that could be achieved, 59% said they supported tax rises.
There was also some support for fining people for missing appointments.
But only 16% were in favour of charging for services, such as a £10 fee for GP appointments.
Funding of the NHS is already proving to be a major theme of the election campaign. The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and Greens have all promised extra funds for the health service.
This issue includes NHS funding, GP access and social care, particularly of older people.
Policy guide: Where the parties stand
Richard Taunt, the Health Foundation's director of policy, said: "It's clear the public think the government should continue to support the principles of our NHS and want to see it protected from spending cuts."
But he said that would "inevitably involve some difficult decisions".
This was reflected by the fact that, while 85% said the NHS should be tax-funded, free at the point of use and providing comprehensive care, only 63% thought it would continue to be free by 2020.
Nearly one in three thought care had got worse in the past six months, but 51% said it had not really changed and 11% thought it had got better.
Opinion was divided over the use of the private sector, with 30% saying private sector involvement would make the health service better, 33% worse and 34% stay the same.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "The underlying message is that the public want the NHS to continue to be protected by government, remain tax-funded and free for everyone - and with this the Patients Association agrees."
Separately, Dr Mark Porter, head of the British Medical Association, t told the Guardian whichever new government is formed after the general election will face a temptation to introduce charges and may not be deterred by the unpopularity of such a move.
"I think they will be tempted. They said in 1950 that a Labour government wouldn't introduce charging and it did," he said.
Dr Porter also said any future government "must resist" moves to introduce charges.


A teenager killed his father before going to a nearby primary school and opening fire with a handgun, wounding two students and a teacher, police say.

The suspect was arrested after wounding two boys and a female teacher at Townville Elementary School in South Carolina.
One child was shot in the leg and the other in the foot, while the teacher was hit in the shoulder, said police.
Officials say there is no evidence the attack was tied to terrorism or racism.
Capt Garland Major said the the unnamed suspect first gunned down his 47-year-old father, Jeffrey Osborne, at their home.
He then made his way about two miles to the school at 13:00 local time (17:00 GMT), according to local media.
Anderson County school district 4 superintendent Joanne Avery told a news conference that school officials are "heartbroken about this senseless act of violence".
SWAT teams searched the school, which has some 300 students, and confirmed that no threats remain.
Nearby schools were placed on "Code Yellow", meaning that lessons continued but nobody was allowed into the buildings.
All the students were transported to a nearby church, where they were reunited with their parents.
Parents received a text alert from the school district informing them of the shooting, and telling them where to pick up their kids.
The traffic queue of mothers and fathers picking up their children was reportedly nearly a mile long.


Historical gold and silver rings found in Pembrokeshire have been declared treasure.

A late-16th Century silver-gilt ring was found in Carew in 2013 by Kevin Higgs, who found a decorative 14th Century gold ring in Pembroke in 2014.
Philip Jenkins unearthed a silver-gilt "faith" ring in Lamphey in 2013, along with a gold religious finger-ring in Llandissilio a year later.
Museums in Milford Haven, Tenby and Narberth hope to acquire the rings.
Mark Redknap, of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, said the rings were "significant additions to the growing database of treasure cases from Wales".


The Reality Check team answers more of your questions about the implications of the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

Graeme asks: Now that the EU referendum vote has been declared to leave EU, is it not possible for the government to have a second referendum vote just the same as SNP wants to have another referendum for independence.
It is unlikely that there would be a second in-out referendum, not least because there is little evidence it would have a different result.
While we should not read too much into the results of polling, in a post-referendum poll by ComRes, 92% of leave voters said they were happy with the outcome, while 4% of remain voters were happy (and, overall, 7% were indifferent).
Also, MPs (with a handful of exceptions) have been rushing to say that the result of the vote must be respected.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested there may be a second referendum on the terms of an eventual deal to the leave the EU, although that is not required by current legislation.
You can read the full Reality Check here.
Neil asks: Can Scotland make a deal with the EU separate to England without leaving the EU?
We can't say for sure as this is an unprecedented situation and the treaties do not refer to this set of circumstances.
If Scotland were to hold a second referendum, and become independent, it could apply to become a member of the EU in the usual way. And it is now more plausible that EU member states would try to speed up the process for Scotland than it would have been at the time of the 2014 independence referendum.
We cannot say if it would be able to keep the UK's membership without going through some sort of application process, but Spain and France have both said they are opposed to holding separate talks with Scotland before the UK leaves the EU, and any deal would require unanimous backing of member states.
You can read the full Reality Check here.
John asks: Is it not right that the USA has a Trade Agreement with the EU? I am sure that they have not agreed to freedom of movement. So why can we not negotiate a deal like them?
The USA does not currently have a free trade deal with the EU. It is in the process of negotiating a trade agreement called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP.
The wording and details of the agreement have not been finalised, but it is indeed unlikely that it will include freedom of movement.
The EU's deal with Canada has also been cited as a possible starting point for the UK.
Both the US and Canada will get access to the single market without actually being part of it, so they will not get full access - Canada's deal, for example, excludes some food items such as eggs and chicken.
The UK could negotiate a trade deal with the EU that did not include freedom of movement, but it would be unlikely to provide the same access to the single market that it currently enjoys.
You can read the full Reality Check here.
Matt says: Much has been made of the two-year exit period that invoking Article 50 will bring. Can anyone explain what might happen if that period expires without agreement on our exit terms? Would our membership simply cease? Or would we remain engaged to all of the terms and conditions that were in place prior to that time?
Once Article 50 has been triggered, there is a two-year time limit on negotiations for a new relationship between the UK and the EU.
If an agreement has not been approved by other member states and the European Parliament within two years, then the deadline may be extended if all parties agree to it.
Otherwise, the UK simply stops being a member of the EU and its treaties will no longer apply.
But negotiations on a new relationship could still continue after that point.
You can read the full Reality Check here.
John asks: How do you know how various ages voted?
We will never know the actual figures for how different age groups voted.
Like other elections, the referendum was a secret ballot.
However, there are post-referendum polls that give a pretty good indication.
They can't tell us the precise numbers but they're clear enough to confirm that young voters were more likely to vote Remain, and older voters more likely to vote Leave.
You can read more about what polls from before and after the referendum tell us here.
Adam asks: If the UK invokes Article 50 by stating its intention to leave, can we later withdraw this intention if, for example, we don't like the deal that is negotiated or will we be compelled to leave?
There is nothing in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, or in any other EU legal document, that would tell us what would happen if an exiting country changed its mind, after the process of leaving had started.
A member state leaving the EU is unprecedented, so it's impossible to say what would happen if the UK decided it didn't like the deal and it wanted to stay.
However, the signals we have had so far, from both EU and UK politicians, suggest it is unlikely that EU members would allow the UK to change its mind and stay in the EU with all its opt-outs, the rebate and so on, if it didn't like the deal on offer.
Graham asks: The view of senior constitutional lawyers is that there has to be a bill passed by Parliament to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, before Article 50 can be invoked.  Won't MPs be duty-bound to vote in whichever way they consider to be in the best interests of the country?
The answer: Some constitutional lawyers think that there will have to be a vote in Parliament before Article 50 is invoked.
But others say it's a prerogative power held by the prime minister so no vote is necessary.
Even if there is a vote, many MPs will think their primary duty is to uphold the will of the people as expressed in the referendum - even if they had personally supported Remain.
Read more: The facts behind claims about our relationship with the EU


Fara Williams says it will be a proud moment if she becomes the first player to reach 150 England caps against Germany on Sunday.

England, who lost their opening game of the SheBelieves Cup against USA, take on the European champions in Tennessee.
"I don't think anyone would ever think they would achieve something like this," Williams, 32, told BBC Sport.
"It's a proud moment if it comes, for both me and my family. It's going to be massive."
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Arsenal midfielder Williams, who is England's most capped player, says she wants to prolong her international future for as long as possible, but predicts her record will be broken in the future.
"I'll keep working hard, keep myself fit, keep competitive and if I do that then I know I can always give something," said Williams, who made her debut as a 17-year-old against Portugal in 2001.
"Every game that I play, I feel really lucky to represent England. I never come here thinking I'm going to play and that keeps me motivated.
"I definitely think a women's player will reach my record in a few years, maybe after I've retired they'll be up there.
"Jill Scott has got a lot of years left in her, Karen Carney's got a lot of caps behind her and I thought Alex Scott would have stayed near but she's now got Lucy Bronze playing well too."
Striker Eniola Aluko could also make her 100th appearance for England in Sunday's match against Germany.
Other current England players with more than 100 caps are:
England's victory against Germany at last summer's World Cup, which sealed a bronze medal, was their only victory over them in 31 years.
Williams says that result, as well as a goalless draw against Germany in November, has given the Lionesses plenty of confidence ahead of Sunday's clash.
"I definitely think we'll get a result and it's going to be a win," Williams said.
"Once we lost that America match, we regrouped because there were lots of positives to take from the game. You'll see another energised performance against Germany.
"That decision making in the final third, that cutting edge is what will change the game for us."
England's final group game is against France in Boca Raton on 9 March.
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Guernsey's plant health inspector has urged islanders to follow a voluntary ban on the import of ash trees.

The UK and Jersey have imposed bans on imports following the discovery of the fungus Chalara fraxinea in the UK.
Charlara dieback, caused by the fungus, has killed 90% of Denmark's trees and could devastate the UK's ash trees, which make up 30% of natural woodland.
Nigel Clark urged people to be vigilant and to cancel any orders for ash trees they may have placed.
He said garden centres and growers were cooperating with the voluntary ban, but there were concerns private individuals may order trees online or bring saplings in from mainland Europe.
Mr Clark said anyone who had planted ash trees in the past two to three years could contact him to have them inspected.
He has put forward proposals for a full ban, which are due to be discussed by the Commerce and Employment Department board on Tuesday.


A scientist has raised concerns about what is believed to be a non-native salmon species being caught in rivers in the Highlands.

Anglers have reported finding humpback salmon, also known as pink salmon, in the Ness and Helmsdale rivers.
The fish are native to Pacific Ocean waters and are a favourite prey of North America's grizzly bears.
Prof Eric Verspoor said the fish being found "running up" the rivers suggested they might be trying to spawn.
The director of the Rivers and Lochs Institute at Inverness College UHI said DNA tests would confirm if the fish found in the Highlands were humpback salmon.
If there is confirmation of the species, they are likely to be stray fish related to pink salmon introduced to rivers in eastern Russia in the mid-1950s.
These fish have since gone on to be found in rivers in Scandinavian countries, including Norway, and strays have been found in other Scottish rivers.
Prof Verspoor said the non-native species could become established in Scotland and compete with native Atlantic salmon.
He said: "It might be argued by some that another salmon species might be desirable in Scotland's rivers.
"However, the potential for negative impacts on native species and the fact that they are the least desirable of the Pacific salmon from an angling and commercial fishery perspective suggests there are unlikely to be any positives from their doing so.
"The fact that they are running up Scottish rivers is worrying as that suggests a spawning intention - the species normally spawns from July to October across its native range.
"Furthermore, the numbers of pink salmon caught in UK rivers appears to be on the increase over the last decade.
"What would be interesting to know is whether the fish caught encompass males and females, and whether they are reproductively mature or not."
Prof Verspoor added: "It is a situation which should be closely monitored in respect of the threat it poses to Scotland's native salmon, given the latter's great socio-economic value and biological uniqueness."


The Liberal Democrats have decided against challenging the result of the election in North East Fife in court.

Stephen Gethins held the seat for the SNP by a margin of just two votes over Lib Dem challenger Elizabeth Riches.
There were three recounts before the result was declared, with the Lib Dems asking for a fourth amid dispute over the validity of one ballot paper.
The party said it had decided there was insufficient evidence to justify a "lengthy and expensive" legal case.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: "Many people have asked us to challenge the result in court.
"We have given this careful consideration and, despite legal advice that we would have grounds to challenge the result, it has been decided not to go to court.
"We have decided there is insufficient evidence to justify a lengthy and expensive legal challenge. It would be expensive for us, expensive to the taxpayer and an inconvenience to the voters, so we could not sanction that without sufficient evidence to warrant it."


The charity Save the Children says the majority of victims of rape and other sexual violence in many of the world's conflict zones are children.

Its report is based on data and testimonies from several countries including Colombia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Save the Children says programmes to stop such violence and help children recover are chronically underfunded.
The issue will be discussed by foreign ministers of the G8 group this week.
The UK has said it will give priority to the issue of sexual violence in conflict during its presidency of the G8 this year.
Save the Children's report -  Unspeakable Crimes Against Children - says figures from a range of countries affected by conflict over the past decade show that children are often the majority of sexual abuse victims in war and its aftermath.
A study in Liberia - still recovering from civil war - found that 83% of victims of gender-related violence in 2011-12 were below 17 and almost all of them were raped.
In post-conflict Sierra Leone more than 70% of sexual violence cases seen by the International Rescue Committee were girls under 18, and more than a fifth of those were girls under the age of 11, the report says.
In Democratic Republic of Congo nearly two-thirds of sexual violence cases recorded by the UN in 2008 involved children, mostly adolescent girls.
Girls and boys are being kidnapped and abused by armed forces and groups, the charity says, and children as young as two are caught up in the violence.
It says many children will bear life-long psychological scars.
Save the Children's Chief Executive Justin Forsyth said: "It is shocking that in conflict zones around the world children are being raped and abused at such an appalling rate. Sexual violence is one of the hidden horrors of war and the damage it wreaks ruins lives.
"Even if they recover from the physical effects of their experiences, many victims carry the psychological scars of their ordeal for the rest of their lives, and are often cast out from society. Despite all this, there are huge gaps in funding for the work needed to protect children from these atrocious crimes and to respond to their needs."
The G8 foreign ministers - from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US - are meeting in London. They will hold a dinner on Wednesday and formal talks on Thursday.