Although some questioned an obviously edited photo of the Prime Minister carrying a loaded gun on timesofmalta.com yesterday, many still missed the April Fool’s joke.

By 4pm, the story that Dr Muscat had been spotted by a Dutch photographer hunting in the limits of Girgenti last autumn, had received more than 60,000 views. This was 20,000 more than last year, when the Times of Malta newsroom reported that the traditional cheese cake, pastizz, would be subjected to a major recipe overhaul or else face extinction as a result of tough EU legislation to cut down on obesity.

By 4pm, the story that Dr Muscat had been spotted by a Dutch photographer hunting in the limits of Girgenti last autumn had received more than 60,000 views

This year – with the island 10 days away from a referendum that will determine the future of spring hunting in Malta – timesofmalta.com published a grainy picture of the Prime Minister in a khaki jacket, gun in hand.

The story said that according to sources, Dr Muscat was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who wanted to introduce the premier to the “pleasures” of hunting.

The Dutch photographer, Weare Havinalarf (or ‘We are having a laugh’), also claimed Dr Muscat had failed to hit a single turtle dove despite several attempts.

Timesofmalta.com readers had mixed reactions. Some fell for it, others immediately saw through it, but the joke soon turned into a hot online debate about spring hunting.