A newspaper investigation has resulted in a national scratchcard promotion from BT being dropped.

The York Evening Press acted after it found hundreds of people were in line for “top prize” wins after scratching a card that arrived with their new phone book.

Despite finding four cherries and being promised a top prize – which included the chance to scoop £25,000 in cash – the paper’s five-minute call to a £1.50/minute hotline revealed the four cherry prize was a Euro-holiday which could be claimed by sending off a £29 per person processing fee.

The Press had also appealed for anyone who had won a cash prize to come forward – but no one got in touch before the paper contacted BT.

One York pensioner rang the line four times because she found the message indistinct.

A spokesman for BT said: “After we read the Evening Press article, we looked again at the cards, deemed them inappropriate and decided to stop distributing them nationwide.”

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