Britain could move closer towards having fully armed police as officers from the country's biggest force are today asked if they want to carry a gun.

The Metropolitan Police Federation will be asking its members whether they would be willing to carry a gun or Taser in the wake of a spate of terror attacks in Europe.

They will also be asked if the prospect of being armed would put them off their jobs. Nationally, the number of armed police is being boosted by 1,500 officers, the number that security officials believe Britain needs to help protect the public from the possibility of a terror attack.