Martians invade W10 in cinema Mini-epic

LIFE has always been difficult for motorists battling through the heart of London. Now parking in Portobello Road has taken a turn for the worse.

Martians are stalking the street on a search-and-destroy mission in computer-generated scenes created to launch the new Mini.

They were made by London advertising agency WCRS for BMW as part of a 1million campaign.

The adventure starts as UFOs fly over Parliament and land in Trafalgar Square, with the Martians hell-bent on wiping out mankind. The Mini - the hero of the piece - manages to stay one step ahead of the invaders thanks to its nippy handling. As the giant machine pursues the little car over Waterloo Bridge, past St Paul's Cathedral and the London Eye, it leaves a trail of destruction in its wake.

In the final scenes the huge tripod closes in on the Mini on the Westway as it makes a break for the open countryside.

However, the Martians get their comeuppance when the Mini lures the machine into a field. Its hi-tech "foot" becomes caught in a cattle grid, bringing the tripod crashing to the ground in a shower of sparks and smoke.

The 50-second advert for the car, which costs 10,300, will be shown at cinemas across the UK.

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