Record Breaking McWhirter Dead At 78

Guinness Book Of World Records founder NORRIS McWHIRTER has died at his home in south west England after suffering a heart attack during a game of tennis.

Born in London in 1926, McWhirter started his career as a writer and sports commentator, and also made waves in the 1950s and 1960s as a political activist.

He released the first Guinness Book of Records in 1955 and the tome became an instant bestseller. It has topped book lists every year ever since, with sales of more than 100 million copies in 100 different countries.

The book has been translated into 37 languages.

Outside his publishing career, McWhirter co-founded Britain's FREEDOM PARTY, which campaigned against British involvement in the European Union.