The British Heart Foundation is asking the people of South London to take part in an official world record to make a giant paper chain of hearts.

Heart shaped messages have been filling BHF shop windows in the run up to Valentine’s Day for over a decade, but this year the public also have the chance to have their personal messages displayed in a record-breaking chain of paper hearts.

For Valentine’s Day, the BHF are attempting to break the world record for the longest chain of paper hearts, which currently stands at 8525.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, retail operations director at the BHF, said: “Heart and circulatory disease is one of the UK’s biggest killers and bringing messages of love, support and hope together from people across the country, shows we are united against these devastating conditions.

“BHF research has helped halve death rates from heart and circulatory disease over the past 50 years but there is still a long way to go. Through the public’s generosity the BHF will fund half a billion pounds of new research by 2020.

“So, visit your local BHF shop today, make a donation and write a message to take part in the World Record. You’ll be sharing the love and saving lives in the process.”

With the help and support of people in in the South East, the BHF is hoping to break this record as a mark of solidarity for the 7 million people in the UK fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease, which includes 935,700 people in in the South East.

To get involved and become a record-breaker, pop down to one of the 87 BHF shops across the region, make a donation towards life-saving heart research and write a message on a World Record heart to be included in the impressive final chain.  

What people write on the hearts could be anything from a thank you or dedication in memory of someone, to a message for a loved one, best friend, family member, or even a pet.

Blank world record hearts will be sold in BHF shops across the country in the run-up to Valentine’s Day and will be sent to London to be included in the attempt, where they will be strung together to create the chain.