BUBBLE blowing youngsters at a Bolton school have helped burst a world record.

Pupils at Lord Street Primary School in Horwich were among 33,265 schoolchildren nationwide involved in the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people blowing bubbles simultaneously.

And unofficial counts suggested yesterday that they had beaten the previous record holders.

A crowd of 23,680 West Ham fans took the title in May, 1999, in a one-minute big blow before a match at the team's Upton Park ground, in London.

Toy company Flair, which sponsored yesterday's event, must wait up to six weeks for confirmation from Guinness that the young bubble-blowers are definitely the new record holders.

Sixty children from years three and four at Lord Street Primary took part.

Heather Pearcy, aged nine, who is in year four, said: "If we break the record I'll be really happy.

"I've been practising with a big tub of bubbles at home."

Flair provided each of the youngsters with a bottle of Gazillion Bubbles, which they blew for the whole of the one-minute attempt.

The bubble blow was held indoors because of the bad weather.

Staff adjudicators kept their eye on a countdown timer on Flair's website, which indicated the 11am start time to all schools taking part.

Aiden Kane, aged eight, also in year four, said: "It was fun doing it with all my friends.

"I support Bolton Wanderers so it will be good to take the record from West Ham."

Year four teacher Beatrice McColgan arranged for the school to take part.

She said: "When we take the children to the library, the Guinness book is the first one they go for.

"They're fascinated by it so I thought it would be great for them to have a chance to become record breakers themselves."

A spokesman for Guinness World Records said: "We look forward to receiving the evidence and verifying them as the world record holders."