A drone has been used in a daring night-time attempt to smuggle drugs and weapons into a high security jail . The plan was only thwarted when the machine became entangled in razor wire on a security wall and was then spotted by staff at Bedford Prison . It is the first known case of a remote-controlled aircraft being used to infiltrate a British jail . The Chinese-made machine was carrying a package containing drugs , mobile phones , screwdrivers and a knife . Prison staff spotted it on the razor wire and managed to retrieve it . The plan was only thwarted when the machine became entangled in razor wire on the security wall at the jail . This is the first known case of a remote-controlled aircraft being used to infiltrate a British jail . One theory is that the 'pilot ' planned to direct the drone to a spot where it could hover outside a cell window . A prisoner might then have been able to reach out and grab the illicit cargo . The miniature aircraft are already a major concern to police , who want to be given powers to seize them if they suspect they are being misused . The one flown into Bedford Prison two weeks ago was a DJI Phantom 2 Vision , which weighs just 2.5lbs but has a range of nearly half a mile . The device is fitted with a wide-angle camera and can be bought online or at an electrical retailer for around £900 . A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said : 'We were called to reports that a small drone had been discovered alongside a package at HMP Bedford at 11.30pm on March 6 . 'Both the device and the contents of the package are currently being examined and investigations are on-going . ' The jail can contain around 500 inmates . A recent report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons said the main challenge facing staff was the prevention of 'the inward trafficking of unauthorised items , including mobile telephones and illegal drugs ' . Adam Bailey , of the Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems , said : 'It 's a pretty stupid way of trying to get stuff into a prison . ' A drone sounds like a swarm of bees and has flashing lights so you 're likely to attract attention . You 'd have to be very skilled to pull this off and these guys clearly were n't . ' The jail can contain around 500 inmates . A recent report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons said the main challenge facing staff was the prevention of 'the inward trafficking of unauthorised items ' A possible rehearsal for the drone 's flight may have taken place a month ago . Farhat Erdogan , who works in a Londis store close to the site , said he thought two men had been involved . Mr Erdogan , 29 , said : ' I saw these guys in their 30s with a drone and wondered what they were doing . 'They were standing near traffic lights a couple of hundred yards from the prison . I watched as they sent the drone up into the air . ' Shop worker Paddy Pain , 22 , said a friend serving a sentence at the jail had been offered money by fellow inmates to accept a delivery of banned substances . And Sonya Minney , 55 , chief officer of the Bedford Guild House charity , which backs on to the prison , said : 'Staff have recently covered up the cell windows that face outwards to prevent stuff being thrown in . 'We often hear the police helicopter and sometimes they patrol the perimeter with sniffer dogs but we 've never seen a drone . ' Drones have been widely used in the United States and Canada to fly drugs into penal institutions and in October a miniature helicopter packed with pills crashed into a net guarding the exercise yard of a jail in Ireland . Phantom Vision devices are small enough to fit into the corner of a suitcase and manufacturer DJI claims they can fly for up to 50 minutes if fitted with an extra battery . There have been no arrests in connection with the Bedford incident yet . Police have appealed for information . A Prison Service spokesman said that the package had been 'quickly intercepted by vigilant staff ' .
first known case of remote-controlled aircraft being used at British prison . Plan only thwarted when machine got stuck in razor wire at Bedford Prison . It is thought 'pilot ' planned to direct drone to a spot where it could hover . Prisoner might then have chance to reach out from window and grab cargo .