Wrekin hokey cokey hits world record hurdle
A group chasing a hokey cokey world record in Telford today hit a hurdle after being told it will need to pay thousands of pounds in fees.
Members of Hands Around The Wrekin 2014 face a £4,500 bill to get Guinness World Records to witness their attempt to join 7,500 people dancing around the town's iconic hill.
The party piece planned for September 21 is aimed at generating money for local charities. Organisers say it would be wrong to ask people to give to charities and then have to hand over some of the money in administrative fees.
"We feel that that money could be better spent on the charities," said project leader Alison Wakeman.
"But the advantage of having Guinness there is to be able to tell the crowds whether we've done it or not, because everyone is going to want to know there and then.
"All the money we raised we would end up paying for an adjudicator so we would be paying Guinness rather than helping our local charities which is what it's all about. "
Dan Harris, a member of the steering group, added: "Guinness has said we can adjudicate it ourselves and that wouldn't cost us any money but we feel that takes the polish off the event. "
The nominated charities are Midlands Air Ambulance, Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, the Clifton and Stay.
One of the four world records the group will attempt to break is the world's largest ever Hokey Cokey – a record that currently stands at 7,384, a figure set in Iowa, United States in 2010. A spokesman for Guinness World Records said: today "Record-breaking is free of charge at Guinness World Records. All you have to do is make an application via our website and tell us about your idea."
