Ban on miniature mobiles demanded

The Justice Secretary has called for a ban on the sale of tiny mobile phones designed to beat prison security measures.

David Lidington wants online retailers to stop selling the gadgets, which are no bigger than a cigarette lighter.

Officials said the mini phones are freely available on the internet and are designed to go undetected by body orifice security scanners at UK jails. Prisoners and organised crime gangs can smuggle the phones into prisons for as little as £25.