THERE might have been enough strummers to qualify for the world's smallest record attempt but nobody at Lyme Regis' Guitars on the Beach event minded that this weekend.

When Geoff Baker came up with the idea in 2013 of going for the record of having the highest number of guitars played in one place it might have been the catalyst for what has become a popular annual event.

But short of moving the attempt to a big city there doesn't seem much likelihood of beating the Polish record of some 7,600, he said.

And that would, he said, defeat the object - to get people to come and have fun in Lyme Regis.

So having the UK record of 3,000 when Deep Purple front man Ian Gillan led the the way with Smoke on the Water in 2014 is enough for now.

Mr Baker said: "It was a lot of fun but we didn't get anywhere near the record.

"It was a huge, huge, crowd down there, massive, there must have been thousands on the beach but I would say less than 500 bought their guitars but that's OK because it's become an event for people to come to Lyme to see and we already hold the British record.

"The Polish hold the world record but that's in Wroclaw, a city of a million people and we have 3,500.

"The main thing about it is the fun. We did draw a huge crowd of people who wanted to watch it but not as many guitarists.

"Everyone down there had a great time."

He said Ray Dorset, founder of Mungo Jerry, really worked the crowd which loved him and there were a lot of good local bands on.

He added: "We are showcasing a lot of local talent so that is good - Adam West who is a tremendous young guitar talent and Grace Gillan, Ian daughter who did a hell of a set.

"I like the idea of this tiny little town constantly going for this world record. Let's reposition it and make a bit of a laugh about it because it its just meant to be fun.

"Maybe we should market it as the world's smallest world record attempt."

Mr Baker said one of the main reasons he started the idea was to give all those shy guitarists somewhere to play other than their bedrooms.

He said one of those shy musicians was Bob Brooker who five years on is playing in the house band.

"That's what it's all about," he said. "But if we were serious about going for the world record then we need a massive name, like Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney or Keith Richards.

"Maybe one day."