Pranksters test castle security

Stand-up comedian Aaron Barschak breached security last week.

Four men were arrested after they tried to break into Windsor Castle as part of "an ill-conceived prank", police have said.

Officers caught the men trying to gain access to the castle grounds via the North terrace at about 0240 BST on Sunday.

The men, three aged 23 and one aged 22 were arrested and questioned but later released.

The break-in attempt by the men follows a claim by a Sunday newspaper that one of its reporters managed to bypass security and get into the castle.

We believe that the four were carrying out an ill-conceived prank at the end of a night out in Windsor Scotland Yard spokesman

The Sunday Mirror reporter said no security checks were made on him and his colleague before they were admitted after they told staff they were picking someone up.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said of the newspaper report: "The secure protected area was not breached at any stage and no members of the Royal family were in residence."

Six days ago stand-up comedian Aaron Barschak sparked an investigation after he gate-crashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at the castle.

Scotland Yard dismissed the latest attempt by the four men as a drunken prank.

A police spokesman said: "We believe that the four were carrying out an ill-conceived prank at the end of a night out in Windsor.

"We urge people to remember that attempting to unlawfully enter protected locations puts them at risk of injury and makes them liable to arrest and detention.

"For their own safety and liberty we urge people to consider their actions carefully and desist from this type of behaviour," he said.