There was chaos on the roads in north London as customers queued to get free petrol being given away as part of a publicity stunt.

Electronic Arts was giving away £20,000 worth of free fuel to promote their new game, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - in which players have to use fuel as currency.

EA took over the Last Stop garage between Stroud Green and Finsbury Park, decking it out in military camouflage material.

Assistants dressed as soldiers doled out £40 worth of petrol to each customer.

Drivers hoping to fill up their tanks for free caused gridlock on roads surrounding the garage.

The scheme started around 6.30am and as rush hour began, queues of more than 40 cars developed.

Motorists beeped their horns in frustration as they inched along the road and one angry commuter had to be calmed by the EA security team as he waited for ten minutes just to get out of his drive.

Electronic Arts said even the scenes of queuing mimicked aspects of the game, and denied the promotion was irresponsible.

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