A much-heralded parliamentary "grilling" of Britain's spy chiefs was branded a "damp squib" yesterday.

The spymasters - MI5 director general Andrew Parker, MI6 chief Sir John Sawers and GCHQ director Sir Iain Lobban appeared before the parliamentary intelligence and security committee amid growing concerns about security service accountability.

The public hearing was called following disclosures by whistleblower Edward Snowden of the surveillance activities of GCHQ and its US counterpart, the National Security Agency.