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Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway
(about 2 hours later)
There have been angry scenes between motorists at a petrol station which is giving away £20,000 worth of fuel. A stunt in which £20,000 of petrol was given away in north London to promote a computer game has been criticised as "irresponsible and dangerous".
Electronic Arts has taken over the Last Stop garage in Finsbury Park, north London, to promote the game Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. Traffic was gridlocked outside the Last Stop garage in Finsbury Park as drivers queued for £40-worth of free fuel each.
By 0730 BST, more than 150 customers had taken advantage of the offer, which allows drivers to put up to £40-worth of fuel in their tanks for nothing. The move was to promote the game Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.
The promotion will continue until the £20,000 of fuel runs out. Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said "Whilst a lucky few might have got free petrol, hundreds of residents have faced misery".
Security staff are on hand to control the traffic and deal with rowdy customers. The Liberal Democrat said: "Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous.
And they were needed as tempers were starting to fray during the rush-hour. "Hundreds of local residents have faced misery on their daily journeys this morning.
'Genius idea' "They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out media stunt."
A queue of about 30 cars snaked its way from the petrol station as more and more customers arrived for their free fuel. Queuing cars
The promotion by Electronic Arts began at 0630 BST and within an hour more than 150 customers had taken advantage of the offer.
Security staff brought in to control the traffic and deal with rowdy customers had to calm down one resident who waited 10 minutes to get out of his driveway.
Another angry resident who lives near the garage, but did not want to be named, said the stunt was "totally irresponsible".
She said: "What an extraordinary thing to do. I can't believe they've been allowed to do it.
"This area is usually very quiet but look at it now, there's cars queuing everywhere. It's just creating unnecessary problems."
A queue of about 40 cars snaked its way from the petrol station as more and more customers arrived for their free fuel.
Car horns sounded repeatedly as drivers on the other side of the road got snarled up in the congestion.Car horns sounded repeatedly as drivers on the other side of the road got snarled up in the congestion.
'Genius idea'
But customers filling up for nothing were very happy.But customers filling up for nothing were very happy.
Prince Davis, 37, who queued patiently for a quarter of an hour for free petrol, said: "This is a genius idea, whoever thought of this should be promoted.Prince Davis, 37, who queued patiently for a quarter of an hour for free petrol, said: "This is a genius idea, whoever thought of this should be promoted.
What an extraordinary thing to do, it's totally irresponsible Local resident
"I'll definitely be buying the game, you're never too old to play computer games.""I'll definitely be buying the game, you're never too old to play computer games."
Louise Marchant, from Electronic Arts, said the scenes of queuing mimicked aspects of the game.Louise Marchant, from Electronic Arts, said the scenes of queuing mimicked aspects of the game.
She explained: "It's set in Venezuela, you play a mercenary and fuel is used as a currency."She explained: "It's set in Venezuela, you play a mercenary and fuel is used as a currency."
But one local resident was less than impressed.
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The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "What an extraordinary thing to do, it's totally irresponsible. I can't believe they've been allowed to do it.
"This area is usually very quiet but look at it now, there's cars queuing everywhere. It's just creating unnecessary problems."
Are you in the area? Have you been able to get free fuel? Send us your comments by completing the form below.Are you in the area? Have you been able to get free fuel? Send us your comments by completing the form below.
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