HUNDREDS of women – and a few brave men – got their hips moving to have another go at breaking a world record yesterday.

Following Zumba Smash’s attempt at the world record for the largest Zumba class last October in aid of Lewis-Manning Hospice and The Wessex Autistic Society, the charities got together again to have another try.

With the record upped to more than 2,000 since then it was a tall order and the event fell short with 700 people taking part – about the same as in October – but organisers of the event at the BIC said it would raise several thousand pounds for the good causes regardless.

Taking part were sisters Laura and Rebecca Kearley – dressed as bananas.

Laura, 39, said: “We did it last year.

“The Lewis-Manning Hospice is important to our family because members have been there.”

Rebecca, 23, added: “We didn’t dress up last time so we thought we would this time. It’s good fun and we always try to do stuff that they’re participating in.”

Hospice user Ruth Ward-Johnson, from Poole, said: “They’re building a new block at Sandbanks to provide more facilities for people that have suffered, and are still suffering, from cancer and it’s life-changing.”

Frances Flynn, from Poole, who also uses Lewis-Manning, added: “All the help that they’ve given, it’s a lovely place to be.

“It’s a lifeline, it really is.”

Although the record attempt wasn’t successful, vital funds were raised for the two charities.

Louise Blackwell, from Lewis-Manning, said: “We wrote to everybody who came before, which was 800, and said if they came and brought two friends we would definitely break it.

“The main aim is to raise money for Lewis Manning and The Wessex Autistic Society. The last attempt we had raised £8,000, so regardless we will still raise a lot of money for the charities.”