Modern day Robin Hoods

A video of three mysterious Brits dressed as Robin Hood and his Merry Men giving away $4,000 in a New York park has become an instant internet hit. The footage showing the men throwing £2,100 in cash into the air in Washington Square Park is the top featured clip on YouTube. It has already been viewed more than 40,000 times.

Delighted passers-by are shown scrambling to pick up the notes scattered by the “Modern Day Robin Hoods." The trio, from Sheffield, said they wanted to encourage people to “give something back” and be more polite.

But on their website the group said they had cancelled a second event, where they intended to dish out $11,000 (£5,800) at a Brooklyn shopping centre, because local press coverage said the first stunt created a mini-riot.

They said they were likely to leave for another city, where their “real work” would begin.

“We never anticipated such a big response and as you can tell from the sheer laughter in the video, everybody’s spirits were high and we all thoroughly enjoyed this, we hope you do too.”

It was unclear exactly what the purpose of the “cash blow out” was.

The Modern Day Robin Hoods’ website is registered to the same name and Sheffield address as someone listed as the registrant contact for a recruitment agency providing entertainers and models for promotional events.

They entered the park and announced through a megaphone: “What you are about to see will amaze you. We are mad Englishmen.”

Daniel, a 6ft 6in man dressed as Little John, said: “There’s a real lack of courtesy in the world.
“The world would be a better place if people were more courteous, but the English are very sceptical, so we decided to come to New York.”

To see the Merry Men in action click here