Could you be MI5 spy?

Byline: BOB ROBERTS

IN their bid to find 1,000 new spies, MI5 have set a bizarre internet quiz.

Called Should You Apply To Be A Surveillance Officer?, there are seven questions to answer:

1 Do you have a valid UK driving licence?

2 Are you a man who is 5' 11'' tall or under or a woman who is 5' 8'' tall or under?

3 Is rapid career progression important to you?

4 Do you want to be based in London?

5 Do you want an unpredictable job, ranging from the very busy to the very mundane?

6 You may need to spend long periods of time away from home at short notice, would this put you off?

7 Does shift work appeal?

Give seven correct answers to the MI5 website -www.mi5.gov.uk - and a winner's message appears.

It says "You should apply!" and explains how.

David Blunkett plans to increase MI5 staff by 50 per cent to meet the terrorist threat from al-Qaeda.

Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said yesterday: "It is a long term threat. The dependence on intelligence is very, very high indeed."

Linguists, surveillance experts, desk officers and security advisers to brief businesses are needed.

CAPTION(S):

QUESTION TIME: The MI5 applicant must get all the answers right; MOMENT OF TRUTH: Winner's screen on the left - or rejection right