A three-sentence story posted on The Westmorland Gazette's website has taken the media world by storm.
News of an office chair being set alight on Kendal parkland reverberated around the globe and has been the talking point of radio shows, television programmes and websites as far afield as America.
Picked up on police and fire calls on a quiet Friday afternoon in January, the seemingly innocuous article that did not even make it into the paper eventually commanded a full page in The Times and a leader comment.
A few comments were posted on the paper's website www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk within days but after a week it had taken off and by the end of February it was the talk of newsrooms and offices across the country with more than 7,000 hits.
The article attracted criticism about whether it was newsworthy and even inspired people to pen songs, poems and jokes, with contributors from Dubai and Los Angeles.
Editor/publisher Mike Glover and reporter Andrew Daniels joined in the debate online describing the importance of local news.
With interest growing, the Gazette decided to go and track down the burnt chair locating a scorched piece of grassland off Maude Street.
However, the paper was unable to track down the charred remains or find out whose chair it was.
When word spread, the story featured on local and national radio, in journalism publications, websites and in the national press.
"This started as a simple, short news item of interest to the local community," said Mike Glover.
"That it has taken on a life of its own and a world-wide audience is one of those quirky freaks of the Internet that makes it so exciting.
"Even in the week of the Grayrigg rail crash, the chair has received more page impressions on www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk. The phenonemon being reported on BBC, Sky Television and in The Times probably helped."
Story in full posted on January 26:
An office chair was destroyed after it was set on fir on thegrassy area, off Maude Street, Kendal, this afternoon (Friday). Fire crews from Kendal attended along with police. A spokesman for the fire and rescue service said: "A delinquent set fire to an office chair in the middle of a grassy area and it was extinguished using one hose jet."
To read the folowing and dozens more comments on the chair story see link below.
'Must have been a very slow news day on Friday!'
Mark Thomson
'This story has upset me so much i don't think i'm going to be able to sleep tonight - i work with office chairs very closely on a daily basis and they've always treated me well and to hear stories like this makes me sick to my stomach.'
Ben Thomas, Dubai
'I heard the chair was causing problems with posture, I've had a bent back now for 5 years and am glad to hear of these acts of revenge.'
Chris Bell, Lancaster
'Surely the bigger story here was the contribution made to global warming? Today a chair burns tomorrow the world!'
Paul Lavin, York
'As Andrew Daniels' tutor during his preparation for journalism exams, I am proud to see that he has fully absorbed all we had to teach him about news values. A lesson to us all.'
Jon Smith, Darlington
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