A WAR cry rang out across Darlington today as thousands of children raised their hands to the sky and fought for a place in the record books.

In what could prove to be the world’s biggest ever Haka, almost 5,000 schoolchildren from across the North-East joined together at The Northern Echo Arena.

A sea of determined children spread out across the arena’s pitch as New Zealanders Lewis Whaitiri and Valance Katipa - from Corey Baker Dance - led them in a powerful rendition of the Maori ceremonial war dance.

Usually performed by New Zealand rugby teams before a match, the huge Haka was staged today in a bid to break the current world record, set by 4,027 people in France in 2014.

Events were set in motion last year when it was announced that the arena – home of Darlington Mowden Park RFC – would be home to current Rugby World Cup champions the All Blacks for six days in October 2015.

More than 50 schools were recruited in a bid to set a new world record, with pupils and teachers from across the region devoting weeks to practicing their moves ahead of today’s record attempt.

The atmosphere at the arena was electric as The Northern Echo’s editor Peter Barron asked the crowds if they were ready to make history.

He said: “This started as a daft idea and look at what’s happened – it’s amazing.

“Mowden Park are making things happen, they’ve brought this stadium back to life, brought the New Zealand All Blacks to Darlington and arranged this world record bid.”

Following the six-minute Haka, breathless eight-year-old Georgia Brown, from Junction Farm School in Eaglescliffe, said: “I’ve loved it, we’ve all been practicing really hard and I don’t think I got any moves wrong, it was really good.”

Her teacher, Claire Wilks, said: “It’s been an honour to be included and this is such a big achievement, a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in the record books.”

Ten-year-old Ashleigh Jones, from Rossmere School in Hartlepool, said: “It’s been so exciting, I’ve never done anything like this before and we’ve all been so excited about trying to break the world record.”

Lee Rust, managing director at Mowden Park, said: “We do a lot of work in the community and that’s what this is all about.

“It’s another example of us trying to make this place a community hub for people in this region to enjoy.

“Today’s about those people taking part as much as it is about breaking a world record.”

Today’s event will be officially assessed in the coming weeks before the club find out if their world record breaking attempt has succeeded.