Published: Friday, 3rd October, 2008 2:45pm

Peebles prepares to dook for world apple record

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ORGANISERS of a mass dooking contest are hoping the world record attempt will turn the Christmas lights on in Peebles.

The fruitful fling at making the Guinness Book of World Records is part of the forthcoming Halloween Festival.

And all proceeds raised will go towards the town"s hard-up Christmas Lights Fund.

Hundreds of apples are being brought in for the record-setting bid.

And even the town"s fire service will help out by filling up the basins.

Local trader, Euan Carr, of Bearing Gifts came up with the idea and he is urging all of Peebles to get involved.

He said: "We want as many people as possible to come along on the day and be part of this world record attempt.

'There is no record at present for a mass apple dunking so this will also put Peebles on the map as well as raising funds for the Christmas lights.

"In the coming weeks I"m going to go and talk with all the local schools and sports clubs to try and get them all involved.'

Peebles" plunge into the dooking water will take place at the Gytes Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 1.

And is one of several highlights organized for a week of Halloween Fun.

A decorated vehicle parade will take place the following evening around the town.

And fancy dress discos, quiz nights and a special lunch will also get Gutterbluids into the guising spirit.

Mr Carr added: "We are hoping to raise about £4,000 for the Christmas lights. In the past it has cost up to £9,000 but this fee was mostly for their installation.

'This year is should cost much less because we aim to install them ourselves."

Throughout the week-long Halloween Festival a shop window display competition will take place with The Peeblesshire News and Peebles Christmas Lights Association Festive Cup awarded to the eventual winner.

The conclusion of the festival will see Purves" Puppets from Biggar make a rare appearance in Peebles.

Discussions are currently taking place between the festival organizers and the Guinness Book of Records about recognising the dooking attempt.

The book currently has a record for a New York man who successfully dooked 33 apples in one minute- but no inclusion yet for the largest mass dook.

Damien Field from Guinness World Records told us: 'We monitor a category for 'Most people apple bobbing', but don't currently have a record for it.

'The record for the most apples bobbed by an individual in one minute is 33 and was achieved by Ashrita Furman in Jamaica, New York, USA, on 19 February 2008.'