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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway | Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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". | 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". |
| Traffic was gridlocked outside the Last Stop garage in Finsbury Park as drivers queued for £40-worth of free fuel each. | Traffic was gridlocked outside the Last Stop garage in Finsbury Park as drivers queued for £40-worth of free fuel each. |
| The promotion began at 0630 BST and ended about four hours later. | |
| Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said "Whilst a lucky few might have got free petrol, hundreds of residents have faced misery". | Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said "Whilst a lucky few might have got free petrol, hundreds of residents have faced misery". |
| The Liberal Democrat said: "Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous. | The Liberal Democrat said: "Trying to recreate Venezuelan-style fuel riots on the streets of London is completely irresponsible and downright dangerous. |
| "Hundreds of local residents have faced misery on their daily journeys this morning. | "Hundreds of local residents have faced misery on their daily journeys this morning. |
| "They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out media stunt." | "They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out media stunt." |
| Queuing cars | Queuing cars |
| The stunt was by Electronic Arts, to promote the Mercenaries 2: World in Flames game. | |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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' | '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. |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |