The Top Gear star Richard Hammond received £750,000 for four days' work when he appeared as the latest in a line of celebrities in a Morrisons supermarket ad, it has been reported.

In the TV ad Hammond, 38, is seen flying himself from Spain to the UK - to promote Morrisons' meat. It took four days to film - making Hammond's daily fee £187,000.

But Hammond did not actually do any flying himself, according to The Sun.

The scenes, filmed at an aerodrome, were faked so that the supermarket chain did not have to insure the TV presenter to fly.

Hammond in a scene from the TV advert

Insurance costs would have been prohibitive, after Hammond nearly died in a 290mph dragster crash in 2006 whilst filming for Top Gear.

It is reported that Hammond, nicknamed Hamster because of his diminutive stature, earns as much as £25,000 a show for Top Gear - but the Morrisons deal surpasses that.

'This really is ridiculous money. Richard is made up,' a friend told the paper.

'Supermodels who won't get out of bed for £10,000 a day may want to change careers. He'll no doubt grab himself a couople of fancy new motors for his collection.'

Other celebrities to appear in the Morrisons campaign include TV presenter Denise Van Outen, Cold Feet actress Helen Baxendale and Liverpool defender and BBC Sport pundit Alan Hansen.

A Morrisons supermarket spokesman said that the store never discussed anyone's salary.