It has been reported that sales of drones in the retail market had risen 24 per cent even before the Christmas shopping rush. Electronics retailer Maplin Direct is understood to have sold 10,000 drones.

A must-have gift 

The Country Landowners Association is now calling for action. Its president Ross Murray said: 'We do not wish to spoil anyone’s fun over Christmas, especially as drones are a ‘must-have’ gift for many. But the growth in the availability of drones with high resolution cameras for consumer use, rather than industry, presents a significant risk to privacy and requires action.' The CLA is pushing authorities in the UK and in the EU to step up privacy protections. Source: FarmingUK