The BBC is investigating after five people gained access to a studio during a live television broadcast.

The incident, at Broadcasting House in central London, happened at around 7.30pm on Friday.

The corporation said the unidentified group entered the studio where the BBC News channel was filming but they did not disrupt the broadcast.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We take security very seriously and are urgently investigating how several individuals were able to gain access to a studio.

"No one was hurt and there was no interruption to broadcasts.

"We have already taken further security measures and will take any other necessary steps."

The intruders left “of their own accord”, a report on the BBC News website said.

The last reported intrusion into a BBC studio was in 1999 when a 20-year-old unemployed man broke into the corporation's newsroom.