Weird and wacky world records tumble around globe

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - In London, a man pulled a double-decker bus with his hair. In Memphis, 297 cheerleaders joined forces in one massive dance. In Italy, spaghetti eaters raced to get through a bowl of pasta in the least time.

Thousands of people across the world tried to set new records in the bizarre and the biggest on Thursday, the fifth annual Guinness World Records Day.

"Guinness World Records Day grows bigger and better every year, and the fifth annual celebration has been the most memorable yet," Craig Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records, said in a statement.

In London, Manjit Singh, a security consultant known as the "Ironman," pulled a double-decker bus weighing more than eight tons over a distance of 21.2 meters (69 ft 6.6 in) with his hair, setting a new record.

For Singh, 59, his latest achievement makes up for the disappointment of 2007, when he failed to break the record for the furthest distance to pull a double-decker bus with the ears.

"I will never be discouraged by defeat, because I know that success can be waiting around the next corner," he said. "The only way to get there is to try again and stay positive."

Also in London, 112 commuters put aside their English rush-hour reserve to set a record for the most people hugging for a minute, while Shaun Jones won the title for the fastest hot water bottle burst at 18.81 seconds.

In Italy, a new fastest time was set for eating a bowl of pasta (one minute 30 seconds) and in Norway the largest ever gingerbread man was made weighing 651 kg (1,435 lb). In Finland, people from 76 nationalities fitted into a single sauna.

In the United States, Fort Worth, Texas, played host to the record for most people swirling lassos simultaneously, with 23 taking up the challenge at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo.