Eager McDonald's customers from around Liverpool were left disappointed after falling victim of a big burger hoax.
Dozens queued and were left "starving" outside McDonald's on Lord Street after hundreds of fake leaflets offering free food and drinks were distributed around the city.
The prank, which took place November 11, 1985, resulted in customers being turned away from claiming their free meals at the then-new £1.4 million city centre restaurant.
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The fake pink leaflets offered a "£2.40 freebie" and led to a queue forming outside the site before 9am that morning.
Leaflets were picked up by some students at the Polytechnic bar and staff expected to continue turning people away throughout that day.
The Liverpool ECHO reported how dozens fell for the big burger hoax on November 11, 1985.
The report reads: "The great hamburger hoax had 'em fooled today.
"Dozens of drooling Big Mac fans turned up at the new £1.4 million city-centre restaurant to claim their free meals.
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"But they were all turned away from the McDonald's Lord Street, and told: "Sorry, you've been had."
Hundreds of pink leaflets offering the £2.40 freebie were distributed around the city by the "burger bandit."
Did you fall victim to the McDonald's burger bandit of 1985? Let us know in the comments section
Students Richard Lindley and Richard Jacques picked up the leaflets from the Polytechnic bar and arrived at the branch like others to be told they wouldn't be getting their free burger.
At the time, student Richard Lindley joked: "We got out of bed to come into town to get a free meal. We haven't eaten for weeks."
Manager of the Lord Street branch Steven McCann said that that day a queue had formed outside the centre before 9am.
He said: "It's very unfortunate because some people may have paid to travel to town. It is very annoying.
"I am expecting to have to turn people away all day."
McDonald’s has more than 1,270 restaurants in the UK and employs more than 120,000 people.
The Lord Street branch has been open in the city centre for 36 years.
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There are over a dozen McDonald's restaurants across the city.
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