MI5 hunting for a 'Q'

The UK security service MI5 is advertising for a chief scientific adviser.

The media compared the posting to the mythical Q, the code name given to James Bond's good-humoured gadget-master.

But the UK's top scientist says the job is unlikely to require anything like developing a weapons system for the latest Aston Martin.

John Beddington was quoted by the BBC today as saying that the adviser would work to keep MI5 one step ahead of terrorists and foreign spies.

MI5 says the part-time job requires experience leading a team and "world-class scientific expertise and credibility."

Applications are being accepted until 24 April.