diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/docs/docs.lua b/libraries/AP_Scripting/docs/docs.lua
index 40ddb7ac9c35fa..1e5e419b0376b9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/docs/docs.lua
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/docs/docs.lua
@@ -1064,6 +1064,11 @@ function AP_HAL__UARTDriver_ud:read() end
 ---@param baud_rate uint32_t_ud
 function AP_HAL__UARTDriver_ud:begin(baud_rate) end
 
+-- read count bytes from a uart and return as a lua string
+---@param count integer
+---@return string
+function AP_HAL__UARTDriver_ud:readstring(count) end
+
 
 -- desc
 ---@class RC_Channel_ud
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc b/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
index a37476a5252d93..480bae8a4d566e 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ include AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.h
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver depends HAL_GCS_ENABLED
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver method begin void uint32_t 1U UINT32_MAX
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver method read int16_t
+ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver manual readstring AP_HAL__UARTDriver_readstring 1
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver method write uint32_t uint8_t'skip_check
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver method available uint32_t
 ap_object AP_HAL::UARTDriver method set_flow_control void AP_HAL::UARTDriver::flow_control'enum AP_HAL::UARTDriver::FLOW_CONTROL_DISABLE AP_HAL::UARTDriver::FLOW_CONTROL_AUTO
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
index 1ff491ed740785..79e30f1036a7cf 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
@@ -632,6 +632,30 @@ int AP_HAL__I2CDevice_read_registers(lua_State *L) {
     return success;
 }
 
+int AP_HAL__UARTDriver_readstring(lua_State *L) {
+    binding_argcheck(L, 2);
+
+    AP_HAL::UARTDriver * ud = *check_AP_HAL__UARTDriver(L, 1);
+
+    const uint16_t count = get_uint16_t(L, 2);
+    uint8_t *data = (uint8_t*)malloc(count);
+    if (data == nullptr) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    const auto ret = ud->read(data, count);
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        free(data);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // push to lua string
+    lua_pushlstring(L, (const char *)data, ret);
+    free(data);
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
 #if AP_SCRIPTING_CAN_SENSOR_ENABLED
 int lua_get_CAN_device(lua_State *L) {
 
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
index 8eef08bca35ac9..ab2de8c49312e9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ int lua_mission_receive(lua_State *L);
 int AP_Logger_Write(lua_State *L);
 int lua_get_i2c_device(lua_State *L);
 int AP_HAL__I2CDevice_read_registers(lua_State *L);
+int AP_HAL__UARTDriver_readstring(lua_State *L);
 int lua_get_CAN_device(lua_State *L);
 int lua_get_CAN_device2(lua_State *L);
 int lua_dirlist(lua_State *L);