Hug your way to a record

THE hunt is on for a pair of champion huggers to bust the world record.

The longest-ever hug in the Guinness Book of Records stands at 24 hours and one minute, and Oldham will host the next attempt to beat it.

Masterminded by the people behind the Christie at Oldham appeal, if successful the record will be broken next Tuesday (March 9) during the Oldham Athletic v Leyton Orient match at Boundary Park.

And the organisers are looking for two determined local people to break the record and go down in history.

The pair must be available to start the attempt at 6pm next Monday, at a venue in Oldham yet to be revealed.

They will hug throughout the night under the eye of a succession of timekeepers and adjudicators, and make their way to Boundary Park, still clasping each other, to break the record in front of thousands of football supporters at half time.

The recordbreaking attempt is being made to herald the countdown to Oldham’s new £17 million radiotherapy unit opening to patients. The hug record, if broken, will take place seven days before the first patient is treated at the Christie centre, at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

The record was chosen because the Christie’s charity logo is an embrace.

One of the organisers said: “We would love some Oldham residents to be involved in the world record attempt.

But, she warned: “Only people with endurance need apply.”

Anyone interested in being a recordbreaker should contact the Christie team on 0161-236 1352.