People in Great Yarmouth were in fine voice as they took part in a festive world record bid.

Singers at the town’s Salvation Army Citadel were among those taking part in a nationwide bid to beat the current Guinness World Record for the largest number of people singing carols together across multiple locations.

The aim was to encourage more than 15,000 people to take part in 15 minutes of carolling at 7pm on December 18, and the carols sung were Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

And they smashed the previous record set by Disney in 2009 with 18,414 singers.

The world record attempt was organised by BibleLands and Premier Christian Radio, and is part of the Christmas Starts with Christ campaign which aims to engage people with the true meaning of Christmas.

Salvation Army Lieutenant Rob Symons, who organised the Great Yarmouth event with his wife Georgina, said it was a big success.

He said: “For the purposes of the record 29 people took part, but there were about 42 all together but we could not count all of them because some were doing the official counting or photography.

“All in all it was a great night, with something for all the family, and most importantly a chance to join together with thousands of others around the country to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas; the birth of Jesus Christ.”

Mr Symons said people of all ages took part from the very young to people in their 80s. However, for the purposes of the record attempt anyone under the age of 10 could not be counted.

The four adjudicators were Bob Price, a local Rotarian who acted in his capacity as a magistrate, the Rev Peter Paine, the Port Chaplain who acted in his capacity as a Minister of Religion, Ailsa Sheldon from Greyfriars Drop In Clinic who acted in her capacity as a GP and Ailsa’s mum, Fiona who acted in her capacity as a retired lawyer.

The attempt must now be verified by Guinness World Records which is likely to take a number of months.