NEW rules that will ban drones from flying above Blenheim Palace's iconic grounds will also prevent reckless pilots from causing havoc, according to commercial operators.

From next month, drones will be forbidden from flying within a five kilometre radius of airports, meaning flights above the palace, Bletchingdon and the northern tip of Oxford could lead to a prison sentence.

That is because they all lie within 5km of London Oxford Airport, along with Yarnton, Woodstock and Kidlington.

Read again: Gun-toting Oxfordshire councillor offers Gatwick help with drones

The legislation, from the Department for Transport, comes after flights were grounded at Gatwick Airport in the run up to Christmas.

It is bad news for amateur drone users, but commercial operators have welcomed the rule-change.

Sandy Halse, operations director of Thames Valley Drones, said: "As a comercial operator we welcome anything that clamps down on improper drone use when a lot of the public activity is improper use.

"I know a few commercial photographers whose basic principle is 'if we don't get caught, let's do it'.

"You've got recreational pilots some who just aren't aware they've got any airports in close proximity.

"Drones aren't toys. Many have been sold like that and a few people have come unstuck."

Read again: Oxford family caught up in Gatwick drone delays

The new legislation will extend the no-fly zone from one kilometre on March 13.

It is not clear if the zone will extend from the centre of the airport or be in place from all of airport land.

But even if it is only the former, the zone extends north from the edge of Summertown to near Tackley, and east from beyond Blenheim Palace to near Islip.

Drones can be used for surveying and leisure activities, including photography.

Herald Series:

But concern about misuse has grown after sightings caused chaos over 36 hours at Gatwick Airport in December. Last month, flights were also grounded at Heathrow after further sightings.

James Coutts, director and chief UAV pilot of aerial photography company Airborne Visuals, said: "It's a good thing, because it will be more regulated. As a commercial operator, there are such good uses for drones.

"There's so many benefits but unfortunately the public only see the bad press."

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We're now going even further and extending the no-fly zone to help keep our airports secure and our skies safe. We are also working to raise awareness of the rules in place.

"Anyone flying their drone within the vicinity of an airport should know they are not only acting irresponsibly, but criminally, and could face imprisonment."