FLIRTING was once described as attention without intention. It is also often said to be harmless.

Yet there is another sort of flirting which is something darker. A North Yorkshire firm is advertising for flirtatious recruits who are prepared to work as "honey trap" agents.

These professional flirts would be hired to detect infidelity, moving in on suspected betrayers and then reporting back to the suspicious partners.

How alarming. So the next time you are being chatted up by a charming stranger, they may just have a hidden motive which, despite the honeyed name, is anything but sweet.

Updated: 10:08 Thursday, September 04, 2003