Mark's mission to spy on the world

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Spies, spooks and double agents from across the world will be focusing on a small cottage in Hawkswick, Skipton, - the home of the world's first magazine dedicated to intelligence, espionage and secret services.

With the first issue of Eye Spy! on sale across the country, editor Mark Birdsall, 42, is amazed at the success of his venture.

"The Government is worried. We have been politely informed that no matter what we do we will be monitored," he said.

"Over the last two or three days we've had people from both sides of the divide in Northern Ireland calling. I had one guy from the IRA talking to me who said he really enjoyed the magazine. On the other side we've had UK serving forces saying they enjoyed it."

He is thrilled that the magazine has caused such a stir, and has carried out numerous radio interviews, even appearing on Channel 4's Big Breakfast.

Originally from north Leeds, Mr Birdsall was previously editor of UFO Magazine and Unopened Files, both based in Ilkley. His brother Graham still runs Unopened Files, while Mark is concentrating on making a success of Eye Spy!

The magazine is run from his home in Hawkswick with the help of three part-time staff.

"At the end of the day, I don't expect MI5 to walk through the door, although I've no doubt that one day I'll meet up with them. If someone is determined to get into the house they will," he said.

"What the Government will be interested in is how much we are going to publish. This is not an extreme magazine, it has to respect national security but if there's big stories we will publish them."

In its first issue the magazine carries a feature on the Chinook helicopter which crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994.

Twenty-five of the country's leading intelligence and military figures were killed in the crash, and Mr Birdsall says that he has a wealth of information on the incident, including suggestions that an American remotely piloted aircraft, known as the Dark Star, may have been involved in the crash.

Although he is keen to investigate the shady world of international espionage, Mr Birdsall has issues of national security in mind at all times.

"I think ultimately the public have the right to know - but they don't have to know everything. I'm a great supporter of the Official Secrets Act and Eye Spy will support that, there's a need for some degree of secrecy."

Mr Birdsall hopes the magazine will appeal to a wide range of readers, not just conspiracy theory freaks and James Bond wannabes.

"The world is changing, real life is far more interesting than fiction," he said.

"I think we are living in volatile times. People think the Cold War is over, but it's more dangerous today than it's ever been because we've got conflicts carrying on all over the globe and there's a need for a magazine to bring this into focus."

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