A driver who was dazzled by a powerful laser as he crossed a crossroads said he “could have swerved the car and killed somebody”.

Chris Renehan, 58, was moving house with his car packed full of possessions as he drove in Roding Road, Loughton, across the crossroads with Valley Hill on July 20.

Mr Renehan, of Avondale Drive, said it was getting dark at about 9pm as he suddenly became aware of blue-green lights flashing across his face.

After initially thinking it could be bright lights from a nearby shop, he quickly realised it was something more dangerous

“It flashed all across the dashboard, it was being waggled from left to right,” he said.

“I thought it was the lights from the shop but it was across my face… If it had been a slightly different angle I could have swerved.

“It is quite a dangerous crossroads if you’re not aware of the traffic.

“All it needed was for me to duck my head and it could have been quite a serious accident.”

Three weeks after the incident, Mr Renehan’s vision in his right eye was still blurred.

“I wear glasses for reading and driving… I am not happy,” he said.

Despite Mr Renehan saying he contacted Essex Police, and Epping Forest Neighbourhood Watch publicising other incidents where drivers said they contacted the force, officers claimed to be unaware of the incident.

More than two weeks after being first contacted about the issue, yesterday (August 25) a police spokeswoman said: “Any action which is committed to attempt to distract a motorist while driving is both irresponsible and dangerous.

“Shining a laser at the driver of a moving vehicle could lead that driver to lose control of that vehicle and that could potentially have grave consequences.”

Anyone with information about lasers being shone at drivers in Loughton should phone Essex Police on 101.