THERE was an overwhelming response to a restaurant's offer of free burgers to cheer up Blue Monday.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen decided to beat the supposed 'most depressing day of the year' by offering free lunches to its first 50 customers.

And the restaurant sold out within 30 minutes with dedicated diners queuing outside the restaurant's doors in the rain before it opened.

Alvin Nika, manager of the Worcester branch in Chapel Walk, Crowngate Shopping Centre, said: "The deal went very well.

"It took only half an hour for all the meals to go and we were all done.

"There was a queue outside when we opened up.

"Now it is steady but all the 50 lunch menus went in half an hour."

It was first come, first served, eat in only, and customers needed to show they had downloaded the GBK app on their smartphone to claim the offer.

Blue Monday usually falls on the third Monday in January and is reported to be the most depressing day of the year.

It takes into account the weather, time since Christmas and failing New Year's resolutions, debt and monthly salary.

However, it has been rubbished as 'pseudoscience' and considered nonsensical by scientists.