A HAMPSHIRE school is hoping to have ballooned its way into the Guinness Book of Records after staging the world's biggest water fight.

Pupils, parents and teachers from Charlton House in Bitterne Park, Southampton, were left soaked to the skin after holding the watery record breaker on Sunday afternoon.

A total of 401 people took part, throwing an incredible 8,600 water balloons in just five minutes. Altogether, 375 gallons of water was used.

The previous world record involved 386 children throwing 4,444 balloons in the same time span - meaning Charlton House, a private school, has nearly doubled it.

Participants stood on opposing sides of the school playing fields in Midanbury Lane before lobbing the wet missiles at each other in a five-minute frenzy.

Full details of the event, which was witnessed by adjudicators, will now be sent off to the Guinness

Book of World Records in the hope of Charlton House being included in the next edition of the famous publication.

Roger Vivian, Charlton House PTA vice-chairman, said: "We had intended to use 10,000 balloons but we just couldn't fill them fast enough.

"As it was, it took us seven days to fill the balloons before the water fight. It was all over in minutes but everyone really enjoyed themselves."

Entry fees from the event also raised nearly £800 for school funds.