THE Guinness world record for the largest portion of chips was smashed in Southend yesterday.

The portion weighed a massive 70-and-a-half stones – 448kg – battering the previous record by 12-and-a-half stones, or 79.5kg. The previous record of 368.5 kg was set by Alan Williams of Mr Chips at Hereford racecourse on February 19, 2004.

The feat, which took four hours, was achieved at Adventure Island on the seafront.

A team of five, led by Adventure Island head of catering James Gibbs, peeled, chipped and then fried up the spuds, costing £150.

He said: “We are ectstatic we’ve broken the world record.”

A team of observers kept watch before the chips were served in a giant replica of the cartons usally served to customers.

Afterwards, the huge pile of chips were sold for a £1 a portion to raise money for Bosom Pals, the Breast Cancer charity based at Southend Hospital.

Any unsold chips will be enjoyed by the pigs who help make premium Essex sausages at Wick’s Manor, Maldon.