Youngsters join 130,000 others in record attempt (From The Northern Echo)

Youngsters join 130,000 others in record attempt

5:52pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Stockton News

CHILDREN from the region have helped to break the world record for the most people singing at the same time.

The pupils at Yarm Preparatory School took part in the sign to sing event organised by the Sign Health charity for deaf people last Wednesday.

About 130,000 took part, smashing the previous record, but that has still to be verified by Guinness World Records.

Alexandra Gray, a teacher at Yarm Preparatory School, said: "The children all really enjoyed taking part in sign to sing. The event was also a fantastic opportunity for the pupils to learn more about deaf awareness and pick up a new skill in an enjoyable way."

Sign Health chief executive Steve Powell said: "Hundreds of schools from all over the country, including Yarm Preparatory School, and overseas registered to take part.

"The schools range in size from 30 to 800 pupils, which, from our calculations, means more than 130,000 schoolchildren took part in the event.

Almost 95,000 children took part in our first sign to sing event last February and smashed the previous record, which was 13,418.

Our current record stands at 94,489."

Those taking part raised money for the charity through donations and sponsorship.