French people are sending croissants and love letters as bribes to stay in the EU

A team of volunteers got the Eurostar from Paris to London on Wednesday to convince Britons to stay in the EU through the medium of baked goods.

Well, sort of - the idea had been that a freshly baked croissant and a handwritten love note from a Parisian would remind commuters at Kings Cross of the close friendship we have with our Gallic neighbours the day before the UK votes on whether to remain in the European Union.

It turns out that giving out food and drink during election campaigns is actually illegal under UK campaign laws, so the croissants went to a nearby shelter for homeless people.

The postcards, however, were still handed out - and judging by the reaction on social media, people were clearly delighted to receive them.

Some notes are simple hellos, or a professed love of British exports such as Led Zeppelin, Monty Python, and crumpets.

Others are touching international love stories.

As Operation Croissant's website says:

The point is to show how close we are. It’s not a grand political gesture; it’s not designed to spark debate or court controversy. Quite the opposite. It’s simply an act of breaking bread.

With less than 24 hours to go before the referendum and the polls showing the result could go either way, many people expressed relief at the positive messages after what has been a bitterly fought campaign.

As passer-by Amy Ferguson told The Local:

I think it's nice that they have sent us this. I'm touched.

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