The BBC has hired bodyguards to protect its director general around the clock after he received a death threat for sacking Jeremy Clarkson . The bill to licence fee payers for extra security is expected to run into thousands of pounds after a menacing email to Tony Hall , apparently from an obsessive Top Gear fan overseas . But Scotland Yard insisted the threat was not considered grave enough to warrant diverting its own officers to guard Lord Hall . Scroll down for video . Close protection : BBC director general Tony Hall , second right , gets out of a Range Rover outside his £1.5million home in Oxfordshire . The BBC has hired bodyguards to protect its director general around the clock after he received a death threat for sacking Jeremy Clarkson . The email was sent on Wednesday , hours after the BBC boss announced that Clarkson ’ s seven-figure contract would not be renewed after his attack on a Top Gear producer . In response , the BBC hired security firm London Protection Services Ltd to protect Lord Hall , 64 , and his wife Cynthia , 62 , at a cost estimated at more than £1,000 a day . Guards in marked and unmarked vehicles were seen outside the couple ’ s £1.5million 18th century home in Oxfordshire . The BBC ’ s head of security made an urgent appeal on Wednesday for former Special Forces personnel to take part in the operation , the Mail on Sunday reported . A security source told the paper : ‘ A select group of close protection officers were told that , as a direct result of the Top Gear punch-up and Jeremy Clarkson being sacked by the BBC , the D-G had received a death threat . ‘ Some of the operation was visible , as a deterrent , while other bodyguards would have kept a very low profile. ’ Lord Hall sacked Clarkson , 54 , after an internal inquiry found he had launched an ‘ unprovoked verbal and physical attack ’ on junior producer Oisin Tymon , 36 . Visible security : Lord Hall leaves his home last week accompanied by guards , with the bill expected to run into the thousands . The row broke out after the star complained no hot food was available at the Yorkshire hotel where the TV crew were staying after a day ’ s filming . Last night Scotland Yard said police were investigating an allegation of threats to kill after the email to Lord Hall . A spokesman added : ‘ Inquiries are ongoing to establish where the email came from . At the moment we think it was sent from abroad . ‘ We do not have any officers guarding him . The security is being organised by the BBC. ’ Police sources played down the seriousness of the potential threat to Lord Hall . One said : ‘ This is very much a local investigation by the bobbies in the borough of Westminster . It would be wrong to think that there are a crack team of detectives on it . ‘ We ’ ve not considered it necessary to take officers away from other duties to guard him. ’ Tory politician Philip Davies , who sits on the Commons culture , media and sport committee , said : ‘ The police are best placed to know how serious this threat is . Obviously the person who sent it is some kind of nutter . But you never know what these people are capable of . ‘ The BBC are in a difficult position . If they do nothing about it and something dreadful happens , they will be criticised . But if they take some action and nothing happens , they will be accused of over-reacting. ’ London Protection Services boasts of having 1,000 certified guards available nationwide and is said to charge £300 per man per shift . The BBC said : ‘ We wouldn ’ t comment on security matters. ’ n Chris Evans has denied rumours that he is being lined up to replace Clarkson on Top Gear . The Radio 2 and One Show host , 48 , who collects classic cars , has said he would not take the job even if it was offered .
BBC hired bodyguards to protect Lord Hall after he received a death threat . Jeremy Clarkson to licence fee payers is expected to run into thousands of pounds . Threat was not grave enough for police officers to guard director general . Email was sent hours after he announced sacking of Bill .