The eighth annual Guinness World Records Day is set to once again unite every corner of the globe, as over 420,000 people this Thursday come together for one very special celebration of the weird, wacky and downright astonishing.

The annual event, which commemorates the day in 2004 when Guinness World Records became the world's bestselling copyright book, sees thousands of people all over the world attempt to secure a prestigious world records title during a 24 hour period.

Any records set on Guinness World Records day are short-listed for inclusion in next year's edition of the book and you too can be part of the global celebration.

Leading the way in the UK, at the iconic Potters Field overlooking Tower Bridge, Dani Maynard (East Sussex) and her intrepid team will be attempting to break their existing record by squeezing 28 limber ladies into a Mini Cooper, all in aid of charity Children in Need. ( Read more about the team's preparations here)

A delight for chocolate lovers everywhere and in time for Christmas, Bologna, Italy is hoping to become the proud home to the Largest Chocolate Coin. Organiser Alberto Deleonardis is raising funds to restore a primary school near Modena which tumbled down during the earthquake which struck earlier this year.

In the United States, they are taking the Pogo Stick to the extreme attempting to reach new heights, literally, for the Most Pogo Stick Jumps in One Minute to Highest Forward Flip Pogo Stick Jump. And an incredible 400,000 children from schools across the USA will be taking part in a record favourite; Most People Sport Stacking.

India will put forward a display of national culture with Largest Kaikottikali Dance (over 2,000 participants) in Mumbai, India and Australia's national pride is on the line as 15-year-old Lachlan Phelps attempts to hold the Longest Note On A Didgeridoo in Hunter Valley.

On the other side of the world, Japan will dazzle with the Largest Display of Solar-Powered LED Lights (over 18,000) and the wacky Fastest 100m Running On All Fours (18.58 seconds).

Back in Europe, Germany may enjoy two separate wacky wins with Most Spears Caught From A Spear Gun Above Water in 1 Minute (minimum of 8) and Most Basketball Three-Pointers Made By A Pair in 1 Minute (current record, 15) and the UK is making another bid for record success as Leicester's Manjit Singh attempts the incredible Heaviest Weight Lifted By Both Eye Sockets (current record 23.5kg - combined).

Stay tuned to www.guinnessworldrecords.com and our follow us on Facebook and Twitter (look out for the #gwrday hashtag), for all the latest news in the run up to this year's event.