HARPIST Rosemary Munro joined a heavenly chorus of the stringed instruments when she helped set a new world record.

The Appleton resident joined 419 other players to create the largest ever group of harpists in Paraguay.

The 62-year-old learned to play the Paraguayan harp after visiting the South American country with twin sister Margaret in 1969.

On October 26 the grandmother of two helped reach the world record attempt in Asuncion.

She said: “The event was well organised with harpists arriving by the coachload from all over the country.

“It was a full day with a practice morning and afternoon and the event taking place at 5pm, with over 2000 people in the audience.

“I was one of 420 harpists who played the traditional local song Bell Bird, for more than six minutes.”

This broke the previous world record of 201 harpists in Edinburgh in 2006. She said: “The atmosphere was wonderful and made us feel very emotional as so many people had gathered for the event.”

Mrs Munro is a harp teacher and performer and was taught to play by Bill Morgan, a leading Paraguayan harpist in London.

She made her latest trip to the country with husband Robert, 58, whom she first met there as a teenager.

She said: “My husband and I always knew that Paraguay could break the record and it was just amazing to be one of them.”

They suggested to friend and conductor Luis Szaran that he should convene harpists to attempt the Guinness World Record.

He is conductor of the Symphonic orchestra of Asuncion and the founder and director of a charity Sonidos de la Tierra.

This has helped 14,000 children take up musical instruments, many of whom took part in the world record attempt.

Mrs Munro added: “The event included many of the well known harpists from Paraguay and I was privileged to play amongst them as a guest of honour.

“I am always amazed at the talent of so many of the harpists that are so young. It was a truly wonderful event to be part of.”

The 4ft 6ins tall Paraguayan harp is the country’s national instrument and usually accompanies songs in the Guarani language.

Guinness judge for Latin America Ralph Hannah confirmed the event as being a new world record.