PHONE firm BT has sparked outrage after offering customers a chance to win a "gorillas in the mist" holiday in Uganda.

The competition offer was made just days after four Britons were massacred while on the same holiday.

It was billed as a "once-in-a-lifetime offer from BT you'll tell your grandchildren about".

But BT has now been forced to withdraw the offer.

The holiday was one of 12 in a contest designed to win back lost customers.

Details were sent to thousands of people in Sussex.

But the winner would have been taken to the very jungle where the tourists were murdered by Rwandan rebels on Sunday.

Paul Swaddle, 31, a marketing manager from Hangleton Road, Hove, said he could not believe his eyes when he received the letter yesterday. He said: "I was disgusted. This letter will be landing on the doormats of hundreds of thousands of homes this week.

"It would seem BT have no concern over the added trauma such an insensitive piece could inflict on the families and friends of the individuals caught up in the horrific massacre in Uganda.

"BT should immediately withdraw the promotion and apologise to the families for their insensitivity."

Tourists visiting Uganda remain a target of rebels based on the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Holiday firms specialising in gorilla-tracking holidays to Uganda have cancelled all offers while the Home Office is warning tourists to stay away.

BT spokesman Steve Beeho said the holiday would be withdrawn but not the mailshot.

He said: "The promotion was put together several months ago and has been sent out to millions of BT customers across the country.

"We had no way of knowing this situation would arise. Obviously we would not intend to send anyone to Uganda at this time."

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