A football freestyler hopes his 20km keepy-uppy marathon will be confirmed as a world record next week.

Matt Wolstenholme, 30, of Kingsbury Road, spent just under five hours keeping a football in the air around the athletics track at Harrow School in High Street last Thursday afternoon.

He had the whole attempt filmed and has sent the footage to Guinness, hoping the feat, which has never been attempted before, will be confirmed as a new record early next week.

He said: “I’ve sent off all the footage and statements to go along with it and I’m hoping they’ll back to me soon.

“It went pretty much to plan, although it was very windy and rainy which wasn’t ideal – and it was physically a lot of hard work and I started aching a lot towards the end.

“I was quite chuffed to finish it because by the end every part of my body was aching.”

The feat would mark a long journey for Matt from a back injury he suffered in 2005, which left him barely able to walk.

The mystery problem was never fully diagnosed, but the Arsenal fan was able to regain full mobility after an injection in his spine and a strict exercise regime, which inspired him to become a personal trainer.

He added that he had “always fancied” being a world record holder, after completing similar keepy-uppy challenges to raise money for spinal cord charities in the last few years.

He said: “It would be great if it is confirmed, and obviously someone will come along and break it.

“But if they do, then it gives me something to break doesn’t it?”