BBC Radio Derby listeners smash crochet world record

A BBC radio station has made it into the history books by breaking a world crocheting record after people travelled miles to join the attempt.

BBC Radio Derby appealed for volunteers to try to break a Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously crocheting.

The station needed 605 people to beat the current record, and surpassed it with 960.

The attempt attracted support from as far afield as the US.

The record was held by The Singleton Crafters in New South Wales, Australia, who achieved their feat in 30 April 2017.

Adrienne Pollich said she had travelled from New York to join in the mass crochet, which began at the Derby Arena at 15:00 GMT.

She said: "I am so excited. It will be my first time [in the UK] and I think it's for a great reason, a great cause.

"I have been crocheting most of my life and I am an avid crocheter."

Another woman came from Sunderland.

Rachel Knight said she had been "roped in" by a friend who lives in Ripley, Derbyshire.

"I started crocheting about five years ago," she said. "I had a little dog who wasn't very well and she was losing her hair and so I wanted to make her a little coat and so I learned to crochet."

The station attempted to break the record to mark the end of an appeal, in which listeners were asked to knit or crochet a blanket for those in need.

To date the appeal, which runs until the end of February, has seen more than 1,800 blankets distributed across Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

Rachael Gilchrist, executive producer at the station, said: "The response from our listeners to the Make a Blanket appeal was phenomenal and took us all by surprise.

"Hundreds and hundreds of people have been so generous with their time and skills to make these blankets - and those receiving them have been bowled over.

"Many have told us it is like receiving a hug.

"We wanted a way of marking the end of the appeal and this world record attempt seemed a great way to thank those who took part by inviting them along."

To break the record, 605 people - or more - needed to crochet simultaneously for 15 minutes.

Jack Brockbank, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, was at the event.

Speaking before the record was broken, he said: "We have an independent crochet expert who will monitor the crowd, and stewards will be watching the crocheters.

"In the spirit of the record, we need to have everybody fully taking part to the best of their abilities.

"If successful, I will be presenting a new Guinness World Records certificate on the night."

For more on the Make a Blanket appeal go to www.bbc.co.uk/radioderby and click on Make a Difference. You can also find out more on Facebook and Instagram.