WINTER Love Island bosses hired armed guards to protect contestants and crews amid fears kidnap gangs will target them.
The crack security team will patrol the Ludus Magnus villa in South Africa non-stop using night vision CCTV and alarm beams.
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The villa is protected by high voltage electric gates, which will be fully manned, with trained guards posted on all the perimeters inside the property for protection.
The extreme measures come after a terrifying surge of crime in South Africa – where organised gangs frequently target wealthy visitors in a bid to extort large sums of money.
A Love Island insider said last night: “The aim is to make Ludus as secure as possible, without terrifying the contestants.
“We want them to feel relaxed and feel comfortable during the show.
“The beauty of Ludus as a choice is that it is a long way from the main road, so for anyone to reach the villa they would either be spotted or triggered alarms and be intercepted.
“There is a hotline into the local police station and private armed response companies so if any threat is larger than expected, the heavy cavalry would be on their way in seconds.
“The security of both the contestants and crew is of our utmost concern and must come first.
“Thankfully the one thing security companies know out here is how to keep people very safe.
“All the production crew coming in and out of Ludus will have armed escorts.
“They will also be given security briefings on what dangers to look for and what to do in worst-case scenarios.”
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The winter Love Island was deliberately moved from Constantia in Cape Town near the feared Cape Flats – where murder and rape is rife – out to the rural town of Franschhoek.
And ITV bosses have splashed out over one million pounds to the owners to rent the property for five months.
