Giant elephant makes a big noise near Downing Street

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2006

LONDON (AFP) — A giant mechanical elephant and an oversized mannequin threatened to disrupt coverage of Britain's government reshuffle, momentarily diverting attention from the post-election shake-up.

The 12-metre-tall (39-feet) tall pachyderm came face-to-face with a 5.5-metre-tall "little girl" in London's Whitehall, a stone's throw from Blair's Downing Street office where ministers were learning their fate.

But the rocket from which the girl emerged, complete with flying helmet and goggles, caused such a stir that it had some television news channels reporting "breaking news" of a loud bang heard in central London.

Once it was discovered the bang came from French theatre company Royal de Luxe's oversized models, focus returned to the reshuffle.

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