PUPILS at two Basingstoke schools are hoping to help break a world record next month.

Pupils at Kempshott Infant School, in Old Down Close, and Park View Infant School, in Pinkerton Road, will take part in SignHealth’s charity event on February 6, in which they will join thousands of others to sing and sign simultaneously.

Both schools participated in the same event back in February last year, when they set a new Guinness World Record, joining 114,227 other pupils and teachers in Great Britain to sing and sign.

It is hoped that this time, more than 175,000 youngsters will get involved, helping to beat the record again.

Steve Powell, chief executive at SignHealth, a national healthcare charity for deaf people, said: “Our Guinness World Records sign2sing project is an attempt to break the world record for the most people singing and signing a song at the same time.

“More than 800 schools have signed up so far and we’re delighted Kempshott Infant School and Park View Infant School are involved in the event.”

This year, teachers and pupils who take part in sign2sing will have access to digital resources to help them teach the signs and song in an engaging way.

The song which children will sing, called sign2sing, has been composed especially for the event.

Mr Powell added: “Any schools in Basingstoke that decide to take part will be joining hundreds of schools all over the country and some in other countries at GMT 2.45pm on Wednesday, February 6, when they attempt to break the world record.”

It is suggested that those taking part donate £1 to SignHealth, which will be used to continue the charity’s work to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of deaf people.

For more information, or to register to take part in the world record, visit sign2sing.org.uk.