Surrey County Council organised the event to celebrate World Olympic Day and the 400 day countdown to the London 2012 Games.

The children were joined in the record bid by Team GB athletes including Rachel Cawthorn (kayaking), Abigail Edmonds (kayaking), Sophia Warner (athletics) and Adelle Tracey (athletics) as well teachers and councillors from Surrey County Council.

They formed the human Olympic rings on the George Abbot School playing field, in Guildford, at 12.45pm, and were crowned record breakers.

The previous record was set on June 24, 2008, in Beijing, China, and featured 1,202 people.

Today's event also celebrated the final day of Surrey County Council's P&G Surrey School Games 100 days of sport, which has seen 3,500 children compete in a wide variety of sports including mountain biking, motor racing, athletics and hockey.

Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville and 1948 Surrey Olympic torch bearer Austin Playfoot attended the celebrations.

Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: "It was fantastic to see so many children making a piece of Olympic history. There was a thrill of excitement in the air during the build up and it was spectacular to see everyone forming the Olympic rings. It started to rain just as the record was broken but it certainly didn't dampen the spirits. There were smiling faces everywhere you looked."

"I hope today's event will encourage more children to get involved in sport. By doing this we can help them stay healthy throughout their lives. Taking part in competition also teaches young people that through hard work and dedication they can achieve their goals."