A chain letter promising the sender their name will appear in the Guinness Book of Records, has duped dozens, perhaps hundreds, of children in Wallington primary schools.

But the letter, which urges children to forward it to six friends, was this week confirmed as a hoax.

A spokesman for the record book said the letter had nothing to do with them and told anyone who receives one to tear it up.

The letter claims six children started the chain in 1996 and if it is not broken in 2001, every child will be included in the prestigious book. It says the letter must be sent within four days of receiving it and warns the Post Office is keeping track.

Concerned mother Debbie Hall from Wallington was alarmed to discover her 10 year old, Jessika Rogers, was being asked to write the names of six children on the back of the envelope.

"Jessika's letter came from a friend at Nonsuch School and she goes to Amy Johnson, so I'm worried these are doing the rounds," she said.

The record book spokesman added: "It started a few years ago and it's got out of hand.

"We have been on Blue Peter telling people not to forward them."

He said some recipients have been asked to cover the postage costs by the Post Office where children are following the false advice in the letter to send it by Guinness Book of Records Freepost.

November 16, 2001 11:02