Pupils attempt to break loom band world record

Pupils at a school in Somerset are aiming for the record books after creating a 200 metre long loom band chain containing 60,000 bands.

Youngsters at St Joseph's and St Terea's School came up with the challenge after becoming obsessed with the craze.

Loom bands were invented by an American engineer three years ago, after he was inspired by looms used for weaving textiles, and since then the craze has taken schools by storm.

The popular toy sees children link together small colourful rubber bands to create bracelets.

10-year-old pupil, Jolyon Doyle, said: "It started off with a girl in my class, she started coming in with bands, then we came up with the idea we should try and break the world record attempt.

"It is a lot of money, it's cost me about £7 so far, I save up my pocket money and use that to buy them."

Friend Summer Ansell, eight, said: "I have been doing it for about two to three months, I really enjoy it. One day we will get the record, it will take a long while though!"

Headteacher Angela Nolan said she first noticed the children making the bracelets two months ago and the craze quickly took over the school.

However, the children have a long way to go before setting a record.

There is no official Guinness World Record yet, but in March this year more than 500 people in Tustin, California, created an 8,851 metre chain as part of a cancer fundraiser for a seven-year-old.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a loom band bracelet on her recent trip to New Zealand, and David Beckham, One Direction's Harry Styles and the Duchess of Cornwall have also done the same.

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