Last month the Echo reported how Southampton man Craig Pennels was aiming to break the world record for the most lanyards in a collection, and last year Hampshire rower Jack Jarvis made the record books after completing a marathon 4,600-mile row across the Atlantic.

But a little more than 20 years ago, a Hampshire school experienced carnage on a scale never previously seen before.

Having drawn up the battle lines, 420 youngsters stood poised ready for the signal to embark on the biggest-ever custard pie fight in the world – officially.

Daily Echo: The world record attempt on custard pie throwing at Hook-With-Warsash School, Warsash.

On the sidelines of the Hampshire school playing field, a tense atmosphere was palpable as parents anxiously awaited the start of the match. The countdown was almost too much to bear for the eager youngsters.

Power FM’s Maximum Bob was on hand to officially start the record-beating attempt and before long the air was full of flying custard and the sound of children being well and truly gunged.

In all, 4,180 real custard pies were thrown, making it the biggest-ever custard pie fight and earning Hook-with-Warsash School a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Daily Echo: The world record attempt on custard pie throwing at Hook-With-Warsash School, Warsash.

In order to meet the requirement of breaking a record, Ambrosia manufacturers provided 17,040 tubes of custard in several flavours. The attempt likely wouldn't have happened without it as the conditions stipulated only real custard could be used.

The previous record, of 3,300 pies, was set at the Millennium Dome two years beforehand.