More than 60 councils across the UK now have pilots authorised to fly drones, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Privacy campaigners fear they could be used to monitor citizens Privacy campaigners have criticised the move (Image: Getty Images)

Councils are launching spy-in-the-sky drones to snoop on residents. Local authorities are buying unmanned aerial vehicles and encouraging staff to qualify as pilots, according to a Freedom of Information request.

The Civil Aviation Authority - aka CAA - has released files showing more than 60 city, borough and district councils across the UK now have pilots authorised to fly drones.

But the real figure could be higher as the data is based only on drone-fliers who revealed their training was sponsored by council chiefs. Another

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