Job Ad For Bond-Style Hitman Posted Online

A spoof advert for a would-be James Bond with a licence to kill has appeared on an official Government website.

The appeal for a 'target elimination specialist' was posted on Friday, on the Department for Work and Pensions' Directgov.co.uk website, apparently on behalf of MI6.

It said that the Government had, from time to time, "a need to remove people whose continued existence poses a risk to the effective conduct of public order".

Potential candidates were told they would need to be "resourceful in finding ways to accomplish their missions and, in some cases, to leave foreign countries by non-conventional means".

The online advert went on to promise that the successful applicant would receive equipment such as special watches, mini-submarines and Bond's signature gun, the Walther PPK.

At £50,000-£60,000, the salary may have seemed a little low to fund the fast cars and Bond girls lifestyle of a secret agent, but it was suggested that bonuses would be paid following successful missions.

It added that the job, which had the reference number 007, would be "appropriate for those who like their martinis shaken and not stirred".

Unfortunately for would-be spies, a spokesperson for MI6 has confirmed the advert is fake and the Government is not looking to recruit a killer.

She added that while it was not yet clear how the ad got onto the site, external employers are able to post potential openings on it.

It has now been removed.