LAVAL (AFP).- Thousands of people gathered in France Thursday to smash two records, for the world's longest picnic and the world's longest table cloth.

The sun shone on the record breakers in Laval, north west France, as they unravelled their 20 kilometre-long (12 miles) red and white check table cloth alongside the Mayenne river towpath.  

Hungry supporters of the attempt also brought ample quantities of bread, cheese and wine to try to break a second record -- for the world's longest picnic.

The picnickers managed to stretch out for 2.5 kilometres, beating the 1.7 kilometres previously managed in South Africa.

Both new records have yet to be verified by Guinness World Records.

The length of the table cloth -- 20,427 metres to be precise -- was measured on a motor scooter by Isabelle Bouvet.

The "slightly crazy" idea was the brainchild of Anne-Marie Amoros, the head of a local radio station who wanted to use the stunt to promote the area.

"It's an excuse for people to meet, to share an experience," she said.

She used a fundraising website to persuade supporters to buy metres of tablecloth for 5 euros a piece ($5.50).



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