People, schools, businesses and even a particularly noisy cat from Northampton and its surrounding villages have found their way into the Guinness World Records over the years.
With the latest entry of new record holders released by GWR on Thursday, September 9, here are some of the most remarkable achievements with links to the town.
Sources for this article include GWR, the Chronicle & Echo, ITV News and BBC News.
1. Guinness World Records
Some of the world record holders from Northampton Photo: Chronicle & Echo / Getty
2. Guinness World Records
One of Northampton's most unusual record breakers wasn't human. Smokey, who lived with owner Ruth Adams in Pitsford, achieved the Guinness title for the loudest purr by a domestic cat in 2011. Her record purr was measured at 67.8 decibels and the record was later equalled by Merlin, a cat from Devon. Guinness still lists Smokey and Merlin as joint holders of the record for the loudest domestic cat purr ever. Smokey the cat is pictured here with owner Ruth Adams to sign copies of the new book of Guiness World Records at Waterstones in Northampton in 2011. Photo: Georgi Mabee
3. Guinness World Records
A Northampton restaurant entered the record books in spectacular fashion in 2012. Tipu Rahman created a tower containing 1,180 poppadoms at The Tamarind Restaurant in Northampton. The finished stack stood 1.72 metres – or 5ft 7in – tall. Tipu was assisted by fellow chefs Abdul Ahad, Abdul Haqu and Aminul Islam for the October 2012 attempt. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds
4. Guinness World Records
BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith proved he knows his music when he entered the Guinness record books. In 2015, he equalled the record for the most Beatles songs identified from their lyrics in one minute, correctly naming 17. Two years later, he achieved another Guinness title when he identified 17 Queen songs from their lyrics in 60 seconds at BBC Radio Northampton. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds