Watch: Hundreds of Shrewsbury pupils aim for world record

Some 477 pupils at Meole Brace School were led by professional road cyclist Hayley Edwards and Shrewsbury Town's midfielder James Wesolowski in attempting to set the record for the most people performing jump squats in the same place at the same time.

The Big Squat was organised by Shrewsbury-based charity Village Water to mark World Toilet Day, which aims to raise awareness of how one in three people around the world do not have a safe, private place to go the toilet. Charity fundraiser Rachel Cooper, fundraiser for Village Water, said they were thrilled with the efforts of pupils and are confident the pupils managed to claim the record, which will only be confirmed after verification from the Guinness Book of Records.

She said: "It went really, really well. The kids were amazing, they were so enthusiastic and motivated to do just over a minute of squats. They were all participating to the best of their ability and beyond that. They were great.

"We have now got to send off paperwork but we are fairly confident we have set a new world record here in Shropshire."

The current world record for the greatest number of people performing jump squats in the same place stands at 378 people and was set by British Military Fitness in May 2015.

The event began with Hayley demonstrating how to do a jump squat, before Mr Wesolowski delivered some motivational words for the pupils.

Each group of 50 pupils had to be supervised by a volunteer steward, and Chris Harrhy, a youth coach from Shrewsbury Rugby Club, John Burrowes and Nick Blackbourn from Hooper Burrowes Legal solicitors, and Philip Browning a retired district judge and member of Ironbridge Rotary adjudicated the attempt.

The stewards included new sports management students at University Centre Shrewsbury, Sarah Bright from Revel in Dance, Jim Davies from Shrewsbury Rugby Club, fitness instructor Tara Sutton, hydrogeologist and rugby coach Ian Sutton, former British Savate international and 2010 European Champion Lizzy Hawkins, Jackie Jones yoga teacher, university netball coach Lucy Bratton, and football coach Phil Rogers from Shrewsbury charity Signal.

Village Water supports communities and schools in Western Province, Zambia with safe water and sanitation.

As part of their work Village Water support hygiene education, including the importance of washing your hands after going to the toilet, and sanitation training which helps families and schools to build their own simple pit latrines so that they have a safe and private place to go to the toilet.

Clare Wearden, Director of Village Water said: "We would like to thank Meole Brace School for all their help and support and for spreading the word about World Toilet Day. Toilets are vital for living a healthy life and Village Water believes everyone should have a safe place to go to the toilet. Our work helps communities and schools in Zambia to build their own simple sanitation facilities. As a result families and children are healthier so they have more time for education and farming. I would like to thank all our stewards and independent witnesses for giving up their time and helping us to run the attempt."