ELY S world record attempt to build the longest milk bottle bridge has been rejected by the Guinness Book of World Records. It has failed to rise to the challenge of officially recording the project which has fired the imagination of people all over East

ELY'S world record attempt to build the longest milk bottle bridge has been rejected by the Guinness Book of World Records.

It has failed to rise to the challenge of officially recording the project which has fired the imagination of people all over East Cambridgeshire and led to thousands of bottles pouring in.

But Ely's new mayor, Cllr Ron Bradney has stepped in to save the day and announced that he will use his powers to record the new record and challenge all comers to beat it.

He said: "We will have the proof that a world record has been set. We will have the photos and film and we will challenge all comers. It will be Ely's world record."

Milk bottles have been flooding in since Jack Waterfall and East Cambridgeshire District Councillor Ian Allen launched the scheme.

They plan to bridge Ely's River Ouse with a massive 14,100 bottles which, standing end to end, would stretch for 2.4 miles, and will make the attempt on June 23 on Classic Regatta Day.

The aim of their project was to set a world record and highlight the massive amount of plastic which could be recycled in the district.

But the idea suffered a blow when Jack received the news that the Guinness Book for World Records had turned them down.

"I was told that Guinness was dealing with 60,000 applications and ours had not been successful," said Jack. "But there is going to be a world record whether Guinness acknowledges it or not."

Jack believes he has already met his milk bottles' target and will stop collecting from May 24.