Can you crack the code? GCHQ releases annual Christmas puzzle

GCHQ has released its annual Christmas challenge, with this year's focusing on the "surprising geography" of the intelligence organisation.

Many people are not aware that the intelligence, security and cyber agency operates from several sites across the UK, including Cheltenham, London, Manchester, Scarborough, Bude, GCHQ said.

The challenge is a series of seven puzzles ranging in difficulty and is presented in the form of a Christmas card, sent by Director Anne Keast-Butler.

For the first time, this year's puzzle has three additional elements hidden in the card for an extra challenge.

While the challenge has been designed with schools and colleges in mind, anyone can take part and GCHQ is encouraging the public to test their problem-solving skills.

GCHQ's Chief Puzzler, Colin, said the agency is "encouraging teams to work together to tackle the challenge".

"You can see from the range of puzzles that some parts are trickier than others.

"However, you do not have to be a genius or top of the class to solve them - you just have to be able to work in a team and embrace the mix of minds and approaches teamwork brings. This is exactly how we work at GCHQ."

Ms Keast-Butler said she hopes the card will "inspire" young people to explore STEM subjects and look at potential careers in cybersecurity and intelligence.

Last year's challenge was downloaded 138,000 thousand times.

As well as the Christmas challenge, GCHQ said it planned to launch its Top Secret Puzzle on Instagram this year, which will provide bonus puzzles and hints to completing them.

The puzzle can be downloaded on the GCHQ website.

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