A temporary runway surface at Bristol International Airport - where passenger planes skidded - has been deemed unsafe, an accident report has said.

Four planes were involved in "serious" incidents after landing on the temporary surface between November 2006 and January 2007, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) revealed.

In one incident, which occurred while resurfacing work was being carried out, a plane went off the runway and ended on a grass verge, after braking problems.

The report said that resurfacing and re-profiling work was taking place on parts of a major project to resurface the manoeuvring area pavements, and sections of the runway surface were ungrooved 'base course' asphalt.

Following the incidents, a number of airlines cancelled or diverted flights away from Bristol, affecting travel plans for 25,000 passengers.

The airport was eventually closed so that the runway surface could be treated, and there were no further incidents after it reopened.

Two of the incidents deemed "serious" by the AAIB were both on December 29. In one case a flight operated by Channel Island carrier Aurigny left the runway on landing and came to rest on a grass verge.

In the other serious incident, a British Airways CitiExpress Embraer 145 aircraft partially left, and then came back on to, the runway.

The other two incidents, which both involved the same XL Airways plane - a Boeing 737 - took place on December 29 and January 3.

The AAIB report found Bristol's risk assessment plan "had not adequately addressed the hazards presented to aircraft operating on the temporary surfaces in wet and windy weather".

The AAIB said advice published by the Civil Aviation Authority about wet runways was not communicated by the airlines to their flight crews.

Five safety recommendations to ensure a tightening-up of procedures were also made by the AAIB to the CAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Bristol Airport spokesman James Gore responded to the report, saying: "The report relates to four incidents which occurred under a combination of exceptional circumstances, including runway resurfacing work which takes place once every 15-20 years, heavy rainfall and severe cross-winds.

"The airport consulted at length with the Civil Aviation Authority before the runway resurfacing began and engaged the leading expert designers, engineers and contractors in this specialist field.

"Standard industry practices were followed and aircraft operators were kept informed of the work in progress. Safety remains of paramount importance at Bristol International."

(JM)(BMcC)