Newsquest has issued an apology after one of its newspapers mistakenly published an advert featuring the World Trade Centre towers.

The Basingstoke Extra ran the picture of the Twin Towers as part of a promotional advert with the strapline 'Take the leap of faith...'.

Bosses say they were unaware that the image used was that of the Twin Towers, and that at no point during the production process did it give anyone cause for concern.

Following a complaint from a reader, the newspaper apologised for any unintentional offence and has now withdrawn the advert.

A Newsquest statement said: "The promotional advertisement – based on The Matrix film and used in the Basingstoke Extra – used artwork from a website looking up at two skyscrapers.

"There was nothing to identify the artwork as featuring the Twin Towers and at no stage in the production process of the advertisement was the location recognised.

"As soon as the matter was brought to our attention by a reader an apology was issued for any unintentional offence which may have been caused and the advertisement was withdrawn."

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