SHOPPERS were invited to sit down and take the weight of their feet to celebrate the end of British Gas standing charges.

The comfy, bright red sofa looked like an April Fool prank to many shoppers when it was brought into Blackburn town centre by a British Gas team who handed out free cups of tea.

But North West area manager Julian Anderton assured customers near the Boulevard bus station that it was a genuine offer.

He said: "The travelling sofa aroused quite a bit of attention and some people started searching for hidden TV cameras and Jeremy Beadle.

"But once we'd explained everything, it was a chance of a welcome sit down for some of Blackburn's weary shoppers."

The standing charge disappeared from gas bills on Saturday, and will be taken off electricity bills next month. It's being replaced with a new two-tier tariff system which allows customers to "pay as they go".

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