A group of students will be braving the predicted freezing temperatures in Norwich today as they prepare for a world record attempt in aid of a local charity.

The fourth-year University of East Anglia medical students have had an application accepted by Guinness World Records to attempt to break the current record for the longest game of five-a-side football.

The record currently stands at 42 hours of consecuive play and they are aiming to break that by playing for 48 hours at the start of March.

They started their preparation by playing 10 hours of continuous football in November and have a 24-hour training session tomorrow at Goals Soccer Centre in Lakenham.

They are appealing for help in their record attempt though.

They have players lined up to take part and have booked a pitch at Goals from 5pm on Friday, March 1 to 5pm on Sunday, March 3 - but they need referees and cameramen to validate the world record attempt.

To do this they need to either raise £3,000 or find people who are willing to donate their time as a referee or camera crews willing to help film their attempt.

Neil Gardiner, 28, originally from Washington in the north-east of England, is one of the organisers of the record attempt.

He said: 'We normally play football together at Norwich Sportspark on a Sunday and a few of the players play for the Norwich Medics football team.

'So we are all keen footy players and enjoy playing together but we wanted to do something for a local charity.'

The money they raise from their record attempt will go to Build, a Norwich-based charity which provides social, leisure and learning opportunities for adults and young people with life-long disabilities.

Mr Gardiner continued: 'We've heard people mention the good work Build do a few times so we thought they were as good a local charity as any.

'We've got a rota planned so that we will all play for three hours then be substituted for an hour or two, and we've got lots of people who are going to be helping with things like making us hot drinks.

'There's a bar at Goals as well so people are welcome to come down and support us if they want as well.'

- To sponsor their attempts at the world record, go to www.charitygiving.co.uk/build

- Anyone who can help the students as a referee or with camera work can contact Mr Gardiner on 07712 885426 or neil.gardiner1@btinternet.com

- Are you planning a charity event? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk