Entertainment

As the former home of the man behind the Guinness Book of Records, Norris McWhirter, it's no surprise that Wiltshire has not only been the best, beaten the rest but is in fact a bit of a record breaker.

With the records for the heaviest rhubarb, fattest tree, oldest pigeon and, highly contested, longest wait on a hospital trolley in the bag… the county is now taking up the challenge again and tackling the World Record for the most soft toys squeezed into one space.

Soft toy get together

The current record stands at 2,338 plush toys gathered in one place which, according to Paul Bools the event organiser, shouldn't be too hard to smash:

"We've got vast piles of cuddly toys at home that we're not using. The whole of the front room and the bedrooms are full of toys.

"People have loads of these blooming things so it seems to be a World Record that we can do."

With a fairly large side room at the Southwick Village Hall to stuff, and just a month to do it, the call has gone out for owners to help the cause and lend out their soft and cuddlies:

"They'll be lending them not giving them," says Paul. "All the toys will be named tagged and returned to their owners."

And it's for a good cause as well. Organised by the West Wiltshire branch of the National Autistic Society it's not only hoped that the soft toy record attempt will raise money for charity but awareness as well:

"I've got three kids and two are autistic," says Paul. "There's so much misunderstanding about autism. Lots of children aren't diagnosed. They're autistic but they just don't know it.

"My eldest son gets bullied because people don't understand it.  He has tourettes as well and feels constrained as he's got to control himself all the time."

Is your teddy up for the challenge?

Teddies wanted

So if you've got piles of soft toys, or just a few, that are up for the challenge of a World Record attempt… donations of soft toys in all shapes and sizes are welcome.

The West Wiltshire branch of the National Autistic Society attempt on the World Record will take place in the 29th of July 2009 at Southwick Village Hall at 19:00 and will be adjudicated by the mayor of Trowbridge.

To donate, or lend, your soft toys contact Janet Nuttall at 01225 764127 nuttallj@live.co.uk or Claudia Ellis on 01225 763798 claudiaellis@naswestwilts.co.uk.

The attempt is part of the Family Fun Day which is open to all members of the National Autistic Society.  Admission: £5.00 per family.