Sony thought it had permission to use the building for its game

The gaffe was picked at number 63 by the US publication in its list of "the dumbest of the dumb" occurrences.

Sony apologised to the Church of England for using the cathedral as a backdrop to "Resistance: Fall of Man".

Fortune put the recall of millions of Chinese-made toys because of paint fears at the top of the list.

In second spot was Eli Lilly's move to put Prozac into chewable, beef-flavoured pills "to treat separation anxiety in dogs".

And in third place was Leona "only little people pay taxes" Helmsley's decision to leave $12m to her dog in her will.

'Sincere' apology

Another highlight in the list selected by the long-running US business bible include Le Monde's decision to dub Ratatouille, Pixar's movie about a rat in a kitchen, "one of the greatest gastronomic films in the history of cinema".

And Sony's use of the Manchester landmark was sandwiched in the humour list between howlers by Nepal Airlines and Spain's National Institute of Statistics.

In a statement in June Sony "sincerely apologised" for causing any offence, but added it believed it "had sought all necessary permissions" to use the cathedral.

Then, the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, thanked Sony, but reiterated that they were "against violence and especially the gun violence seen in this portrayal of the cathedral".