An April Fool spoof successfully fooled one of the UK's most august newspapers - the Financial Times.

Executives at the paper, famous for its pink pages, were left with decidedly red faces after publishing the joke story.

The brewing company Guinness distributed a press release embargoed until April 1 saying Greenwich Mean Time was to be re-named Guinness Mean Time.

Not a pint of Greenwich

The change, along with replacing the pips for Britain's speaking clock with drips (meant to sound like a dripping pint), were part of its sponsorship of the Millennium celebrations.

FT reporters thought the story was so good they broke the embargo, published a day early - and wished they hadn't.

The paper, which coined the advertising slogan "no FT no comment", devoted almost half a page to the story.

But after being told they were victims of a little Irish fun it was the FT which had no comment.

Guinness, delighted at their success, were in forgiving mood.

Spokesman Roy Mantle said: "I suppose they pipped everybody to the post.

"We were very pleased to see that from such an august organ as the Financial Times."
 

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