Hats off to world record attempt

Students celebrated their graduation in style – by attempting to break an official world record.

Canterbury Cathedral played host to the stunt on Friday, with 422 University of Kent graduates and staff taking part in the largest ever mortar board launch.

Each had to carry out the tradition of throwing their board into the air in an effort to beat the previous best of 290, set in 2012. The attempt, which formed part of the retirement celebrations of vicechancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, has been submitted to the Guinness World Records for ratification.