Don't mention the war: Top Gear flees Argentina after crowd pelts Jeremy Clarkson over 'Falklands' licence plate

The presenters of British motoring programme Top Gear fled Argentina after being pelted with stones over a controversial licence plate carried by one of their cars, British press reported yesterday.

The BBC confirmed that the presenters and crew had left the South American country, but denied that the plate was intended as a deliberate provocation over the Falklands War.

Presenter Jeremy Clarkson was among those who were forced to abandon their vehicles after an angry crowd gathered and began throwing stones.

One vehicle - a Porsche - carried the plate H982 FKL, which newspapers claimed was a reference to the 1982 conflict in which Britain defeated Argentina.

Patagonian daily Diario Jornada said: " Top Gear is filming in Patagonia and there's controversy. Even though the BBC authorities asked the popular presenter Jeremy Clarkson to behave himself during his time in Argentina, he chose to use the provocative number plate H982 FKL on his Porsche, in reference to the 1982 Falklands (Malvinas)war."

BBC bosses said the number plate was just a coincidence.