A BRITISH advertising campaign meant to draw tourists ahead of the London Olympics has been pulled after riots broke out in the city - but not before being hijacked by pranksters.

Created by the British tourist board, the “You’re invited” advert features several British landmarks and celebrities.

As the film sweeps over shots of Stonehenge and the London Eye, the likes of Judi Dench and Jamie Oliver spout phrases like “you’re intrigued” and “you’re intrepid”.

But in the wake of riots and looting in the country, the ad’s usual slot just before the news meant it was running before footage of burning double-decker buses and hooded youths carrying crowbars. 

The organisation behind the film, VisitBritain, thought it best to temporarily pull the $160 million campaign.

“We will switch the advert back on to appear just ahead of the news once we have made sure it is appropriate. It is unfortunate, but has not affected the rest of our marketing strategy, which remains in place,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

The decision hasn’t escaped the attention of pranksters, who were quick to post their own rendition of the ad on YouTube. 

The new version features all the same celebrity voices, but put to scenes of the recent chaos, it appears to be inviting the world to join in the violent clashes. 

Meanwhile, international coverage of the riots and, more importantly, local police failing to contain them, has left some questioning the level of security ahead of London's hosting of the summer Olympics. 

American daily USA Today reports the violence in an "unwelcome reminder of London's volatility".

The reports have left locals worried about the lasting damage to the city's tourism industry. However, Mary Rance, chief executive of UK Inbound, told The Telegraph in the UK that the tourism board has not received a single call from concerned tourists, and said that no-one had cancelled their purchases.

"London is still one of the greatest cities in the world with an enviable record of safety and it’s important we stress that these developments are not typical," she said.