The switchboard of a West Country weekly newspaper was jammed after callers reported a horrific accident just outside Portishead.

Eager reporters from the Clevedon, Yatton, Nailsea and Portishead Mercury rushed to cover the incident at Gordano Gate, near the offices of Coleman UK.

But a few phone calls quickly established the truth behind the gruesome scene.

It turned out it was actually the BBC filming a mock accident for an episode of the hit TV series Casualty.

A spokesman for Coleman UK said: “It was quite a surprise first thing in the morning.

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here