X Factor security guards armed with high-powered hoses to fend off spy drones at finalists’ home
Cops were called to mansion Wednesday after flying device was spotted
X FACTOR security guards are being armed with high-powered hoses after a drone was reportedly seen flying over the finalists' mansion.
Cops were called Wednesday to the plush North London pad, where contestants are holed up with a round-the-clock security team as they prepare for the live finals.
The gates of the £3.5m property have been boarded up to keep out prying eyes — but security hadn't reckoned on drones, which can be used to take photos and videos from the sky.
And after police said there was little they could do about the flying devices, security devised a plan to blast them with jets of water.
A source said last night: “The security teams have taken all the precautions they can but didn’t consider the drone threat – which is a very modern problem.
“The last thing the contestants need are drones equipped with cameras flying over the garden when they are relaxing.
“They love being in the limelight and having all the TV and press attention.
"But while media know when to draw the line once the singers are behind the gates, fans armed with drones don’t, and so the team have been briefed to hit any low-flying craft with hoses.”
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Fan-flown drones are not the only things X Factor contestants need to be on the lookout for, as the home is close to beauty spots popular with exhibitionists and doggers.
The mansion – owned by ex-England rugby star Kyran Bracken – is in the posh suburb of Hadley Wood, an area described as ";wildly popular" for paid-for romps in an online directory of British brothels.
