IT'S that time of the year again where reporters' inboxes are filled with prank press releases from companies hoping their jokes will go viral. 

And now the clock has ticked past midday, it's time we can share some of the best and worst from April Fool's Day 2016. 

Did you pull any good April Fool's pranks this year or were you the victim?

Let us know below. 

1. Pizza palava 

Wirral Globe:

Restaurant chain PizzaExpress claimed they were making restaurant history this April, removing all cutlery from restaurants across the country.

All 460 restaurants were supposed to be packing away their knives, forks and spoons, as the much loved restaurant group opts to let customers eat with their hands.

2. Motor mischief

Wirral Globe:

Logistics business Wincanton said they would be unveiling a new trial to combat congestion and reduce emissions on April 1 : the remote control truck.

Codenamed, “Project Biscuit”, they said the use of remote control technology will allow faster delivery of smaller parcels, with new vehicles designed to be small enough to travel between stationary larger vehicles.

3. Microchip mishaps

Wirral Globe:

Online pet supply retailer MedicAnimal announced that in line with the April 6 deadline, it will be microchipping all UK staff alongside their pets.

The move, which will affect MedicAnimal’s staff across the UK, is being taken in a show of solidarity with dogs owned by customers across the country.

Andrew Bucher, Chief Veterinary Officer at MedicAnimal, said: “Britain has long been touted as a nation of animal lovers, and MedicAnimal has decided to go the extra mile in proving our dedication to our customers by having all our staff microchipped.

“With our survey data showing that 98% of dog owners think of their pet as a member of the family, it made perfect sense to extend the new Government rules on microchipping effective from April 6: our research really highlighted the extent to which humans depend on their pets to give them confidence in their relationships, and we hope that our microchipping will be a bonding moment.

“Any productivity boosts that come as a result of being able to constantly track and measure our staff are an added bonus.”

4. Hair-raising herring

Wirral Globe:

Supermarket Netto told us they were launching a newly developed Premieur Pickled Herring Face Mask, which promises to preserve the youth of your skin and keep it radiant looking for months.

The face mask has been developed based on ancient Viking traditions.

Netto UK’s technical manager, Nigel Tong, said: “The Scandinavians are known for their youthful looks and it’s down to the fact that they don’t flounder around with their skincare routine.

"At Netto, we listen to the consumer and what we’ve been herring is that people feel that they’ve ended up in a bit of a beauty pickle.

"We just cod not ignore the voice of the people and decided to bring this miracle skincare line to the UK.”

Each pack of Premieur Pickled Herring Face Mask contains just pieces of pickled herring and comes with fish bone tweezers for easy application. It is priced at just £5 and lasts ‘practically forever’ as the product is pickled, and contains no added carp.  

5. Betting brouhaha 

Wirral Globe:

(Note the first letter of each new line with this one.)

Betfred boss  Fred Done wants to introduce compulsory yoga classes for his 10,000-strong workforce led by his senior management team. Here’s his message to staff:

As it’s the start of Spring I would like everyone to engage in something of a new, more relaxed approach to life at Betfred with the introduction of yoga.

Perhaps this announcement will surprise you but yoga broadens the mind. It has certainly worked for Ryan Giggs when you think how many games he played for Manchester United…and I personally swear by it.

Realistically we can’t just hire scores of yoga teachers immediately for classes for all 10,000 staff up and down the country and at our Birchwood HQ here in Warrington.

It would therefore be better if we roll out the free yoga sessions which will be compulsory for senior management. The health and safety executive have given us their full backing so we can get cracking as soon as possible with the first session in the reception area at Birchwood. In the summer we can move outside where there is plenty of room so lots of you can get involved.

Let’s set out the details. Each morning staff can arrive maybe a little earlier wearing sport clothing – and then it’s time for downward facing dog, the cat and all the other highly beneficial moves that will not only keep us all “fun and friendly” in line with the company ethos but help us all to start thinking about healthier lifestyles and losing weight. In shops it would be just brilliant if  staff, newly converted to yoga, starting classes with customers.

Funnily enough the idea of doing something about some of our staff’s bulging waistlines came to me after the chancellor George Osborne announced he was introducing a sweet tax on sugary drinks.

Once the chancellor had spoken my mind was made up. I want our staff to feel good about themselves through yoga.

One great way for Fred’s Flab-busting Scheme (FFS) to get off to a flying start is for the big (getit?) bosses to join me on the mat and then hopefully the rest of the workforce will follow and life will be ever so harmonious through yoga.

Let’s give this our best shot and have more fun, and that is what Betfred is all about isn’t it?      

6. Dingo drama 

Wirral Globe:

ByteSnap Design said they had taken the bond between man and dog to an unprecedented level with its new Android app: DingoLingo.

The dog translation app by the UK electronic design consultancy is being claimed as a world first by the director – and dog whisperer - Dunstan Power.

7. Tea tattle

8. Cat kerfuffle  

Wirral Globe:

Cats Protection’s Warrington Adoption Centre is excited to be looking for a new home for a very rare breed of cat.

The Pushmi-Pullyu cat is something that fairy tales are made of – with a head at either end of the body you have the bonus of four beautiful cat’s eyes looking at you rather than just the normal two.

Anna Saillet, deputy manager at the Warrington Adoption Centre, said: “We can’t believe our luck to have had a Pushmi-Pullyu cat brought into our care but we are looking for a very special home.

"With two heads to think about, this cat needs twice the love of any ordinary cat.

"We don’t recommend anyone who is scared of spiders considering offering this cat a home as the sideways scuttling motion as the cat moves is reminiscent of a spider running.”

Anyone considering offering this unique cat a home will need to take into consideration that they will need to purchase two separate collars (although only one identification tag should be required), two food bowls which can be placed near to each other and a large bed.