Clarkson accused of 'fabricating' danger faced in Argentina

Jeremy Clarkson has been accused of "fabricating" the danger he was in during his recent trip to Argentina.

The crew had to leave the country after a Porsche with a number plate which appeared to reference the Falklands War angered locals.

It was reported they feared they were going to be stoned to death.

But Argentina's UK ambassador Alicia Castro claimed Clarkson had "fabricated an exaggerated story".

Writing in the Independent she said: "He describes being ambushed by a mob branding "pickaxes".

"Later, Clarkson claims that a mob was trying to burn the crew's cars - which I understand did not actually happen - and he goes so far as to affirm that 'one said they were going to barbecue us and eat the meat'.

"We do, it is true, eat a lot of beef. But we have never eaten a journalist."

Ms Castro claimed the crew were also given safe passage across the border into Chile by Argentine authorities when the locals' anger threatened to boil over.

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has arrived back in the UK, insisting that his team had not deliberately provoked Argentinians with a numberplate allegedly referencing the Falklands war.

He said his team had been chased to the border with Chile by thousands of people and claimed "someone could have been killed".

He dismissed the idea that the cast had upset veterans of the Falklands, tweeting that those who were upset were not old enough to have taken part.

Jeremy Clarkson has said the attack on the Top Gear cast and crew in Argentina was "the most terrifying thing" he has experienced.

"I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan, but this was the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in," he told the Sun.

"This is not just some kind of jolly Top Gear jape - this was deadly serious."

The presenter said that a mob of "hundreds" of people attacked the group after finding out they were using a car with the numberplate H982 FKL- which some suggested was a reference to the Falklands War of 1982.

However, Clarkson insisted he and the rest of the cast "knew absolutely nothing about the number plate", calling it an "unbelievable coincidence".

Read: Top Gear stars 'pelted with stones' over Falklands row

An Argentinian Falklands War veteran has told ITV News a number plate on a car used by Top Gear appearing to refer to the 1982 conflict is "not a coincidence".

Earlier, a BBC spokesperson insisted the registration plate - saying H982 FKL - was a "very unfortunate coincidence".

But Ernesto Alonso, a president of the Malvinas Veterans Centre, disputes the claim, saying: "This is not a coincidence. The programme has a history of doing this. It wasn't by chance.

"I think they need to apologise to the Argentine people - we're a peaceful nation.

"Unfortunately it has produced this reaction from the Patagonian people and the Tierra del Fuego province - which is after all the capital of the Malvinas [Falklands]."

A car used by Top Gear with a number plate apparently referring to the Falklands War is a "very unfortunate coincidence", the BBC claim.

The Porsche, driven by Jeremy Clarkson for a special episode in South America, had the registration number H982 FKL.

The number plate sparked anger in Argentina and the cast and crew of the show were forced to flee the country after being attacked with stones by protesters.

A BBC spokesman said: "We're pleased the team is safe and would like to thank all of those who have helped. As the executive producer has made clear, the number plate issue is a very unfortunate coincidence."

The executive producer of the motoring show, Andy Wilman, earlier said suggestions the number plate was chosen deliberately were "completely untrue".

Sports cars driven by the presenters of Top Gear have been damaged following an attack by protesters angry at a car's number plate which appeared to refer to the Falklands conflict.

Dramatic footage posted online captured the moment the cast and crew appeared to be pelted with stones.