ABOUT 350 volunteers armed with shovels and spades gathered in Sandridge this morning to break a world record.

The Woodland Trust hosted a mass tree planting challenge at Heartwood forest - which is currently taking shape on the edge of St Albans - planting more than 20,000 saplings in one hour.

With the help of St Albans sea cadets, district scout groups, Verulam School sixth formers and Harpenden Air Cadets, the trust victoriously smashed the current Guinness World record of 18,124 trees planted in one hour at a single location.

But the group's victory proved short-lived as rival planters in London Derry, Ireland, set a new record of 26,000 trees planted within 60 minutes.

Placing their shovels in the ground, a muddy group of planters dashed to a hot food and drinks van after the time was up.

Sea cadet Dominic Malic of Pondfield Crescent, St Albans, was certain he and his 11-year-old helper Robert Smith, from Hemel Hempstead, had planted around 2,000 saplings alone.

Welwyn Garden City sea cadet Andrew Smith, 22, said: "Everyone was getting along, it was a good laugh. We were throwing mud at each other as we were planting the trees."

The challenge was held as part of national tree week.