The safety of Britain's skies is under threat after air traffic controllers complained that the text on their computer screens is too small.

Air traffic controllers at the UK's new £623 million hi-tech centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, claim the problem is so bad it could threaten air safety.

In particular many controllers have difficulties telling the difference between 0, 6, and 8.

A copy of a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report leaked to the BBC claims the text is at the "limits of readability".

However, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) insists that the problem is not a threat to air safety.

The HSE report also claims that computer equipment at the Swanwick centre is poorly designed and could lead to errors and fatigue.

Of course, air traffic controllers who are experiencing difficulties reading their VDUs could always try and sit a little closer to their screens (or squint, that sometimes works) until a more permanent solution is found. ®

Related Link

Safety fears at air traffic center - BBC