You can now get a free Subway sandwich delivered to your door – this is how

The firm – which has been able to keep its branches open with a takeaway service during lockdown – has launched an initiative called Gamer SOS, building on its existing campaign Send Out Subs, which has been running on social media.

Gamer SOS is prompted by research by the company which showed 43 per cent of computer game enthusiasts regularly skip breakfast and lunch because they are so engrossed in their favourite pastime – on average they will go five hours without food if they are involved in a game, a survey of 1,000 fans found.

More than half of those polled admitted to forgetting to eat because they are so immersed in a game, while nine per cent have gone longer than 12 hours without eating because they were so preoccupied.

Through Gamer SOS, friends can nominate their gaming pals to receive free food by using the hashtag #sendoutsubs on Twitter. Subway says the ‘best’ SOS calls will be rewarded with a complimentary delivery via Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats. Winners will be chosen at random by Subway.

Angie Gosal, head of marketing at Subway, said: “Our new research indicates we’re clearly a nation of dedicated gamers – from those who play for up to ten hours a day to those who use it to unwind after a long day.

“As the nation’s favourite sandwich shop, we want to help gamers ‘power up’ with our #SendOutSubs campaign and deliver sustenance with our delivery partners to reach their gaming goals.”

Ninety-five per cent of respondents to the survey said working from home during lockdown meant they were playing computer games more than ever.

Meanwhile Subway has just launched a Christmas menu which includes a pig in blanket sandwich, mince pie cookies and honeycomb – also known as cinder toffee – flavoured coffee and hot chocolate.

The firm, founded in 1965, says it is the world’s largest restaurant chain and the globe’s biggest seller of ‘submarine’ sandwiches, which consist of submarine-shaped bread rolls cut lengthways and sold with various fillings such as meats and cheeses.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.