A businessman who sparked a major security alert and cost an airline £25,000 by joking he had a bomb on board a plane was jailed for two months.

Armed police officers, a negotiation team and other emergency services were called to Inverness Airport after Peter Aldred told a stewardess on the easyJet plane he had a bomb in a bag.

All 124 passengers on the flight due to take off from Inverness bound for Luton were evacuated, but when Aldred's bag was searched it contained only two furry Loch Ness monster toys and sweets.

Aldred (41), of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in a previous court appearance admitted stating he had a bomb.

At Inverness Sheriff Court, Sheriff Alastair MacFadyen told the father-of-one his "irresponsible and reckless conduct" had placed him in a grave situation and a jail term was the only appropriate action.

Aldred pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace.