Five weird and wonderful world records set in Worcestershire

From the wacky to the stinging – from a sporting perspective – here are some of the best records that still stand in the Guiness Book of Records today.

Gnome from gnome

The largest gathering of people dressed as garden gnomes – a whopping 478 – was achieved by BBC Hereford & Worcester in the foyer of Malvern Theatres on November 18, 2011.

It was all in for a good cause, too. The attempt raised funds for BBC Children in Need.

BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Mandi Harris had the idea.

Ms Harris said: "Gnome Time was inspired by Whickers, the breakfast gnome, who has been spending his year travelling around the globe in listeners' suitcases.

"I wanted to do something gnome related for Children in Need so started looking at records we could break."

Big bunny

The world’s longest rabbit is Darius, a Flemish giant rabbit owned by former glamour model Annette Edwards from Stourton, near Worcester.

Darius was measured at 129 cm (four feet, three inches) long when measured for the Daily Mail on April 6, 2010.

Annette announced their double act would be retiring in 2018 after eight years of various bookings.

There must be something in the water because the world's largest goat was a British Saanen named Mostyn Moorcock, owned by Pat Robinson of Ewyas Harold, near Hereford.

It reached a shoulder height of 111.7 cm (44 inches) and an overall length of 167.6 cm (66 inches).

Look away, Warriors fans…

Christian Wade became the second player to score six tries in a Premiership rugby match on April 16, 2016, helping Wasps to win 54-35 at Worcester on his 100th appearance for the club.

Australian Ryan Constable had done the same for Saracens against Bedford on 16 April 2000.

Pershore gig

The most live concerts in multiple towns in a 12-hour period is 10 and was achieved by Tom Grennan and Insanity Records.

It was set in Marlborough, Wiltshire, on July 11, 2018, and included a gig in Pershore.

The first concert took place at 06.45 near Bolton and finished at 18.30 in Marlborough.

The route covered almost 555 kilometres (345 miles) with concerts in Breightmet, Knutsford, Market Drayton, Bridgnorth, Pershore, Monmouth, Brockworth, Faringdon, Chipping Sodbury and Marlborough.

Camper chaos in Malvern

The most people crammed in a VW Campervan classic model is 51, achieved by Comfort Insurance (UK), in Malvern on September 5, 2015.

The attempt took place at Busfest a specialist VW Van Festival.

Television celebrity James Lewis, of BBC’s Flog It and Bargain Hunt, who witnessed the incredible feat, said: “I’ve been involved in quite a few world records in my time but this has been one of the most exciting yet, especially as it has never been done before and for such a worthy cause.”