Troops and counter terror police may soon be using a new James Bond-style spy camera hidden in a little ball.

The gadget can be thrown at enemy suspects and will send back pictures of their movements via wireless technology.

It was first successfully used by Israeli forces during the Gaza conflict last month.

Now defence and police chiefs in Britain are considering adopting the cricket ballsized camera in their surveillance operations. A military source said: "This has apparently been used to great effect by Israeli forces against Hamas in Gaza.

"It could well be used by our forces when they come across an enemy in built-up areas.

"British forces are constantly looking at ways in which they can improve their chances against an increasingly sophisticated urban guerrilla in the war against terror."

The £800 device, officially named Eye Ball R1, contains a mechanical camera with a 360 degree view.

It records sound and images up to 25 yards away and beams them back to a computer. It can also see in the dark.

The ball was invented in the USA for counter terror squads.

Its maker Remington said the Eye Ball R1 offers "higher degrees of visibility" behind enemy lines.