The CIA has come in from the social media cold, joining Hollywood stars and celebrities by launching an account on Instagram.

America's top spy agency made its first foray on the picture-based network with a cryptic photograph of a cluttered desk, accompanied by the caption "I spy with my little eye...".

On the desk, believed to be located inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, were a litany of objects associated with espionage. They included a "burn bag" for getting rid of secret documents, an Arabic notebook, a wig, foreign bank notes and a container marked "TOP SECRET PULP". The public were invited to decipher the meaning of the items.

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has over one billion users, It is perhaps best known for celebrities sharing red carpet snaps, and beach holiday "selfies".

The most followed "Instagrammers" in the world include Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, each of whom have over 100 million followers.