Independent knocks Times ad campaign

The images include Tracy Emin hugging a cat, the world exploding, and an obese boy in swimming shorts on a diving board with "2012?" written above, and are meant to represent "The Independent's reputation for tackling news stories ahead of the pack" according to a spokeswoman for the newspaper.

For example, the boy connects to the newspaper's look at what the spread of obesity means for Britain's 2012 Olympic hopes, while Emin appears as a representation of people who are ahead of the times.

The posters mimic the style of the The Times' campaign, which ran this week with unbranded images including Cern's Large Hadron Collider, a boy standing in swimming shorts, and Barack Obama outside Number 10 Downing Street.

Today The Times revealed it had placed the ads, which will now run again with its name on them.

The Independent said the ads have been launched solely to counteract The Times campaign and it intends to run the posters for 24 hours.

Simon Kelner, managing director and editor-in-chief of the Independent, said: "The Independent has always had a reputation for innovation and quick thinking and these adverts are another example of that.

"As The Times has mimicked us with their move to compact and home delivery programme, it was about time we mimicked them."

The Independent's stunt campaign comes after its full-colour relaunch earlier this week.