MORE than a thousand children across Oxfordshire are hoping to have played their part in breaking a world record.

Children and staff from eight county schools took part in the Sign2Sing event on Wednesday, signing and singing a specially composed song.

It is hoped 130,000 people took part, setting a new world record for the most people singing and signing at the same time.

Among the schools taking part was New Marston Primary School, Oxford, where there is a special base for hearing impaired children.

Eleven-year-old Josie Jackson, who is profoundly deaf, said: “I think it’s likely that we have broken the record.”

Her classmate, Vania Lay, 11, from Cowley, has learned some sign language and said she uses it outside classes to talk to Josie.

Vania, pictured left with Doris Popus, 10, Jirah Mejia, 10, and Fiona Slator, 11, said: “It was really fun and brought together a lot of people.

“It’s hard for my deaf friends to speak and this has helped me learn they try their best.”

Other local schools taking part included Brookside Primary in Bicester, Mabel Prichard in Littlemore, Tetsworth Primary, Barley Hill in Thame, RAF Benson Primary, John Watson in Wheatley, and Wootton-By-Woodstock Primary, along with hundreds more across the country.