Electric fencing for Big Ben

Big Ben and other key parts of Parliament are set to be protected by an electric security fence in a bid to foil terrorists and protesters.

Commons authorities have ordered officials to look at the feasibility of running a high-voltage fence at "weak spots" in defences.

The fence would run along the bottom of Big Ben and into Parliament Square, a part of the Parliamentary estate that was breached by Greenpeace protesters this year.

A Commons source said today: "It would give you a nasty shock."

In March two Greenpeace activists managed to scale the wall and climb St Stephen's Tower to unfurl an anti-war banner.

Big Ben would also be a trophy target for al Qaeda and police are worried that present protection is inadequate.

The House of Commons Commission, the executive body in charge of MPs and officials, expects to receive a full report on the security improvements next month.