Cadbury Schweppes has apologised for a US marketing stunt which led to the closure of a US cemetery.

The firm had promoted its soft drink brand Dr Pepper by launching a gold coin treasure hunt in return for cash prizes. However, the hunt in Boston led to a 347-year-old cemetery which was shut amid fears that the graves on the site could be damaged by participants.

“It was not an appropriate place to bury a coin,” said Cadbury Schweppes communications director Andrew Dawson-Shepherd. “It was a poor judgement and we have apologised to the authorities. No damage was done to any of the graves.”

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