Amazon picks UK location for deliveries by drone

Amazon has chosen Darlington as the first location in the UK to see parcels delivered by drones.

It says it will now start the planning process for initial flights from its fulfilment centre on the outskirts of the town.

The online giant had previously promised it would start a drone delivery service by the end of 2024.

The Civil Aviation Authority has still to come up with rules on how commercial drones can safely be used for deliveries.

Amazon acknowledged there was still much work to do but said it was "ready and excited".

"We have built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close relationship with regulators and the communities we serve, and we are working to do the same in the UK," it said in a statement.

Amazon offers drone deliveries in a couple of US states.

The BBC was given exclusive access to see the Prime Air service in action in the small Californian town of Lockeford.

Eligible customers were able to order small items and get them delivered in under an hour, with the drone able to avoid obstacles and find a designated spot to drop the package on the ground.

But there is still a long way to go before Amazon's drones will be flying parcels over Darlington.

Crucially, it needs clearance from the CAA to use the airspace.

Amazon has been chosen by the regulator to take part in new trials to expand the use of drones in the UK.

It is one of six organisations now trialling flights without operators needing to maintain physical sight of them, although Amazon has not revealed where this is taking place.

In a statement the CAA said it was working with companies to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight "a safe and every day reality".

Teesside International Airport said its senior management and air traffic control had worked closely with Amazon over the past 18 months to provide guidance and support.

Amazon is also submitting a planning application with the local council to build an area next to the warehouse for flights to take off and land.

The company's fulfilment centre in Darlington is just a few miles from the town centre, making it a handy location to reach customers.

The BBC understands that it is seeking to fly within a seven and a half mile radius excluding the nearby airport.

But Amazon needs to persuade residents about its plans.

It will hold a community event in Darlington next month to answer questions and collect feedback.