Then it was only a rumour that the Martians completely destroyed Hull ?

If Lloyds had been forced to pay out the full £4.67 that Hull was insured for, it might have destabilised the worlds financial markets.

On the other hand, perhaps all the inhabitants of Hull have been replaced by martian simulacra (except for John who was probably one from the start). As anyone who has read "Learn to Speak Martian in 185,000 Easy Lessons" would know, 9 is a mortal insult in that language.