14 DAY TRIAL // A giant model octopus caused traffic chaos in Central London when it became stranded on one of the city's busiest intersections this morning.
Apparently, the lorry carrying the 2-metre (6.5-foot) tall polystyrene octopus broke down in the middle of Oxford Circus, blocking the busy intersection between Oxford Street and Regent's Street in London's popular shopping district.
According to the Telegraph, the eight-legged creature caused severe traffic problems in the area, prompting a Transport for London official to advise rush hour commuters to “Approach with care.”
Bemused passers-by stopped to snap photos of the huge model cephalopod and posted them online, so the creature quickly became a Twitter sensation.
Betfair, a London-based online gambling company, claimed responsibility for the giant octopus and apologized for any inconvenience caused on the roads.
“We'd like to apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused by the breakdown this morning at Oxford Circus. While transporting a prop which was used in a recent advertising campaign, unfortunately our truck broke down on its way to a holding location,” Betfair wrote on Twitter.
Also, a company's spokesperson assured people that the incident was a genuine breakdown and not a publicity stunt, saying that the prop was being transported from a film shoot for an advert, part of their World Cup campaign.