A man - believed to be a US government employee - has claimed responsibility for a drone that crashed in the grounds of the White House.

It sparked a security alert, with security officials putting the building in lock-down.

The radio controlled 'quad copter' device was found on the south eastern side of the building. The device is about two feet in diameter with four propellers.

The drone was flying at a low altitude before crashing on the White House lawn shortly after three am, according to AP.

The man told Secret Service agents he was using the drone recreationally and didn't mean to fly it over the presidential mansion.
President Obama was in India when it happened early this morning.