But in the French town of Bugarach and the Turkish village of Sirince, which doomsayers say will offer refuge from the impending catastrophe, the streets were teeming not with new age mystics but with hordes of disappointed journalists.

"To me it sounds like a hoax invented by the media. People have been stocking on wine, just in case, so I guess it will be one huge party tomorrow to finish it up," one Turkish villager said.

[link to www.abc.net.au]