Dozens of infant school children burst into song alongside half a million others to beat a world record with the local help of X Factor star Amy Connolly.

Fidgeting, stretching their arms and warming up their vocal chords, pupils from Bushey and Oxhey Infant school awaited their queue with an excited gathering of parents, staff and councillors.

Moments before they had heard Watford's X Factor contestant Amy Connolly soar through her new single and it was now their turn to impress the hall, and world, with a rendition of Des'ree's You Gotta Be.

Around the country, other schools were taking part in the project, but the local performers seemed focussed on their own efforts as they counted down to a cue on a distorted radio in the corner.

Split into two sections and conducted by staff, the makeshift choir successfully pulled off harmonies and hand gestures before the record-breaking event came to a halt in a matter of minutes.

Former chairman of Watford Borough Council, Councillor Tony Poole congratulated the singers both before and after the event and spoke of the importance of learning to sing in school.

He encouraged the Government to take note of the successful record breaking project, named The Big Sing, and fit more singing and music into the national curriculum.

Organising teacher Aaron Wanford, who is new to the school, in Aldenham Road, said the children had put in a lot of hard work to the project.

He said: “I can't believe it's over after all that work. They have all done really well.”

19-year-old singer Amy was almost speechless after the school's performance which she found hard not to sing along to herself.

She said: “Aaron invited me to the event but I didn't know what the song was until now. Then I was like I know that so I sang along. It's such a difficult song and they did a great job.”