The record for the most people from different nationalities in a group hug has been unofficially broken - right here in Gloucester.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire, in partnership with local charity GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), managed to create a new record with 53 people of different nationalities in a group hug.

They organised The Big Hug event for Red Nose Day in celebration of people coming together from all different corners of the globe.

The record currently stands as an unofficial record while it awaits verification by the Guinness World Record organisation who stipulated that the figure of people involved must exceed 50 to even be considered.

Chris Sandys of BBC Radio Gloucestershire, organiser of The Big Hug

The fundraising event took place at the GARAS headquarters in Barton and was organised in part to celebrate the charity's 20th anniversary.  They support refugees and asylum seekers by providing practical help, workshops and classes for learning the English language and assimilation in to the UK.

The record was a tight call right up to the deadline. GARAS director Adele Owens was rushing in to shops along multi-cultural Barton Street to get people to join and make up the numbers.

She said that she was shouting at people 'I'm not from the home office I promise!' as she was  convincing people to make up the numbers.

Participants of The Big Hug

Community artist Kulchalee Fable, a Gloucester-born Rastafarian who was performing music at the event, was rushing people in from the street.

Claire Sandys and Vicki Hughes were working hard at the desk, scribbling down people's details and inspecting their documents.

Finally when the 51st national, a gentleman from Sierra Leone, wandered in he was welcomed by a huge round of applause as this meant the record had been broken. The gentlemen looked confused by the adulation he was receiving and was rushed in to build up the numbers.

Portugese man Joao Arujo with daughter Maria Arujo (12) and Brazilian friend Jady Paratudo (11)

The participants included Portugese local Joao Araujo with his daughter Maria and Gloucester born Brazillian friend Jady Paratudo.

Mr Araujo came to Gloucester 12 years ago, he has lived an eventful life in Gloucester even though he technically died in 2009.

"They calll me the miracle man," he said, as he recounted the story of how he died for 21 minutes and woke up in the hospital as he was being wheeled to the morgue.

Clydel Latisha Williams from St.Vincent and The Grenadines

Clydel Litisha Williams came to Gloucester as an asylum seeker a year ago after fleeing a violent family dispute.

Ammur Albakov, from Russia, at The Big Hug

Russian Ammur Albakov spoke proudly of how he orginally came here for work and built a family here.

Participants of The Big Hug at Garas, Barton Street.

Tim Pemberton, managing editor at BBC Radio Gloucestershire, said: "This event was part of a big mission to reach the heart of the community and bring together the widest range of people."

Participants of The Big Hug at Garas, Barton Street.