Paint-by-numbers Easter story could smash world record

The greatest story ever told could become the biggest painting-by-numbers picture ever made. That's because more than 500 people from across Loughborough have just completed a massive picture telling the Easter story as their contribution to Hope08, and it's going to be verified for a possible entry in the Guinness Book Of Records.

Nine different scenes - depicting the main Easter events from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day - are coming together. Sections will be added each day, on a huge scaffolding frame that has been put up just outside Emmanuel Church.

Longer than a football pitch and taller than a two-storey house, The Bigger Picture - as it is called - has been done in numbered sections by schools, community groups, churches and families, with even the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens wielding a brush.

This community creation will have taken 2,500 pots of paint and two miles of scaffolding to come to life. And hundreds of people are expected to descend on the site on Easter Monday for a huge party, as the last board is put in place.

"It's taken on a life of its own," said project co-ordinator Euan Lockwood. "Everyone's blown away by how it's come together. We're constantly reminded that God is in charge - and he's opening doors in a massive way."

The idea emerged from a meeting of Loughborough church leaders who wanted to link in with Hope08. Phil Weaver, pastor of New Springs Centre, challenged his colleagues, "Let's go for the world record!" And so the project sprang into action.

Local companies have donated the paint and the scaffolding.

"Most churches have had some involvement in putting it together," said publicity co-ordinator Steve Burgess. "This is a tremendous evangelistic tool."