A 500-strong crowd watched as a group of supermarket staff became unconfirmed record breakers when 20 of them squeezed into a Mini Cooper.

Brave volunteers from Asda's Accrington store in Hyndburn Road, packed into the tiny vehicle to raise cash for charity.

The previous record for the most people in a standard Mini Cooper was 18.

The team, including friends of carnival queen Joanne Swindells, took fewer then 10 minutes to shoehorn themselves in -- and all looked extremely relieved to get back out again. It is hoped that Mini Crush 2001 will raise more than £1,000 towards the Lions charitable work in the area.

Keith Hindle, Accrington Lions president, said: "I was very impressed but glad to be watching rather than in it."

Fans of the little car were also given a treat and a trip down memory lane as the Mini Owners' Club took along more than 25 minis ranging from one of the first produced in 1959 to the present model.

And football fans were also treated to a visit by Blackburn Rovers star Matt Jansen.