Paul McCartney plays surprise London gig from a truck

LONDON: Rocker Paul McCartney played a surprise gig at London's Covent Garden on Friday, drawing a crowd of hundreds as he and his band performed half a dozen songs from the back of a truck.

The 71-year-old former Beatle played a colourful piano and strummed the guitar in the plaza in the centre of the capital in a stunt to promote "New", his first album of solo material in six years.

The performance was announced on Twitter only minutes before it took place and many in the crowd were passers-by or office workers who popped out for a sandwich.

"Thank you, @PaulMcCartney. I can safely say that's the best lunch break I've ever had," tweeted fan James Gill.