They did it! As we reported yesterday in Dot News, Salford students Faisal Mohyud-Din and Mohammed Azeem (picture) set out on Monday to beat the world hugging record - and beat it they did, with a record time clasped in each other’s arms of 24 hours and 16 minutes. They crossed the final cuddle line on Tuesday night, at half time in local team Oldham Athletic's tie with Leyton Orient. Faisal is an athlete himself, with his sights set on the 2012 Olympics, when he hopes to compete as a sprinter - but as he says, his and Mohammed's hug challenge was more of a marathon than a speed event . "I needed all my reserves of stamina to get through it" he said. "But I'm over the moon to have broken the record - hopefully the first of many." Their big hug had meaning though - it mimics the logo of the Christie Cancer Hospital, and all the money the champion huggers have raised will go to help the work the Christie does.



Neato Faisal and Mohammed! But stick to shaking hands for a bit...! Mind out for your mums and aunties too!