Spies are caught by police drones

FRENCH police have been flying drones over numerous Euro 2016 training grounds, but the only spies to be caught in the airborne sweep were watching England train this week.

Two French photographers from paparazzi agency Fly Net Pictures were spotted by the drones perched in trees overlooking England’s practice pitch. The pair were arrested but the UEFA threat of losing tournament access for spying on training sessions was irrelevant as they did not have tournament accreditation.

Fly Net, who have offices around the world, have been busy around the England camp, taking pictures of Jamie Vardy with his nicotine pouches and Red Bull stimulants. But their aim is to take celebrity-driven pictures rather than uncover Roy Hodgson’s team and tactics — although their pictures might unwittingly do so. Dronegate has entirely been a UEFA enterprise with the FA unaware of it until French Police unveiled their machines last Wednesday.

JAMIE VARDY’S equaliser for England against Wales has given the producers of Vardy: The Movie hope there could still be a fairy-tale ending. The Footballer of the Year’s 5,000-1 Premier League triumph with Leicester inspired the film which is on hold during Euro 2016 to see where the Vardy story ends — and in the hope of attracting more funding on the back of England and Vardy (above) doing well. THE British Horseracing Authority has sacked Newmarket-based stewards secretary Holly Watts, claiming she was found not suitable while serving probation. But the case has created a stir in the horseracing world. A spokesman said only: ‘Holly Watts left the BHA on May 26. Employment matters and the reason for her leaving the organisation are private.’

THE afternoon kick-off for England-Wales reduced the BBC audience from the 14.1million who tuned in to ITV for the opening Euro match against Russia to a high of just 9.3m. But another prime-time 8pm scheduling of the third Group B clash against Slovakia on Monday will see around 17m watching on ITV.