THE race is on to complete a quarter of a million pound refurbishment of one of Calne's most iconic buildings, to ensure it can host Calne Town Council's Guinness World Record attempt to have the most living figures in a nativity scene.

Joel and Anna Lear, landlords of the Lansdowne Strand, are determined to finish the work on the ground floor of the grade II listed building so that they can welcome hundreds of people attempting to beat the world record which will take place outside on The Green from 5.15-5.45pm on Saturday, December 3.

Mrs Lear said: "It is quite exciting. The refurbishment has been going on for about eight or nine weeks and the building has been through a state of neglect and has not had the care it deserves. We are an iconic part of the town so it needed a bit of love and attention.

"It is an incredibly tall order to achieve such a World Record, and we will also be aiming for our own hotel record in offering hospitality to as many people after the attempt.

"We are all working flat out to complete the work on the hotel, which has included a total redesign of the restaurants and bars, to make sure we are ready to support Calne Town Council's world record attempt. There is nothing like an immovable deadline to ensure the builders, plumbers, painters and decorators finish on time. No one wants to stand in the way of a Guinness world record!"

Calne Town Council need another 600 people living in the SN11 area to take part in the world record attempt which will take place on the same night as the lantern parade on lights switch on.

"From the end of November, we’ll be throwing open the doors of the Lansdowne Strand hotel to welcome guests and local people in from first thing in the morning to last orders at night," the landlord added.

"While we reckon there really will be no room at the Inn on 3rd December, we hope that won’t put visitors off dropping in and seeing what we’ve done to the hotel afterwards. We think they won’t recognise the place."