Last updated 16:51, Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Students from the University of Cumbria are waiting to hear if they smashed an unusual world record after part of Carlisle was over-run with Saints and Sinners.

Two of the Sinners at the Saints and Sinners record attempt

• Slideshow: Photos from the world record attempt
• Video: watch the Saints and Sinners

As part of Freshers fortnight, the students were last night bidding to have the largest number of Saints and Sinners under one roof.

And as The William Rufus pub in Botchergate filled with horns and halos, they looked set to break the current record - of just 63 - in spectacular fashion.

“Everyone wants to remember their first week at uni,” said Danny Morville, vice-president of the university students’ union.

“It’s a fantastic thing to be able to go home and tell your parents that you were part of a world record.”

In order to qualify for the record all participants had to be wearing either horns or halos.

And, despite there being no-one from the Guinness Book of World Records present, Danny was confident of success.

“It would have cost £2,000 to get someone from Guinness here,” he said. “So instead we have to collect the signatures of everyone here and take photos to prove that we’ve done it.

“Hopefully when they confirm it we’ll get a certificate and we’ll be in the book in 2010.”

It was the first world record that the University of Cumbria has attempted to break and students were embracing their opportunity to make history.

“I think it’s a good idea for the uni,” said Ben Byrne, 20, a first year performing arts student. “It will make us look really good.”

Catriona Jefferson, 21, agreed and said: “Why not go for it? I think Cumbria should be put on the map with a world record.”

Martin Dodd, Student Executive Officer and one of the event's main organisers, had heard of a promising omen even before he arrived at the pub.

“The local fancy dress shop, Struts, ordered extra stock in for the event,” he said.

“And they’d already sold out this afternoon - so there must be lots of students interested.”

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