WINCHESTER University student teachers have helped to smash a musical Guinness World Record.

Numerous second year students, studying teaching and music, were among some 130 onlookers who helped beat the record at the Royal Albert Hall by watching over 3,000 people play their way into the book.

The new record of the Largest Ocarina Ensemble of 3,081 beat the previous record of 831 players, each one of the carefully scrutinised to make sure they continually played the small, round flutes.

The performance was a new piece by composer Douglas Coombes called Ode to a Joyful New Star – a mixture of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, New World Symphony and Ode to Joy – and was accompanied by the Royal Albert Hall Grand Organ.