Jonesing for a world record

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - The saying "Keeping up with the Joneses" could not have been more apt on Friday as Joneses from around the globe headed to Cardiff to set a new world record.

Joneses from as far afield as the United States and Australia flocked to the Welsh capital to beat the world record for a gathering of people with the same family name.

The Welsh bid hopes to attract up to 2,000 Joneses to a show in Cardiff where they will be entertained by singers and dancers, all called Jones, including former Bond actress, supermodel and pop icon Grace Jones, who headlines the show.

The current Guinness World Record for a gathering of people with the same name is 583 Norbergs in Sweden.

"We are hoping to consign the Norbergs to the dustbin of world record history," said Dylan Hughes, the organizer of the Jones extravaganza in the city's Millennium Center stadium.

"I think Grace Jones is around somewhere but we haven't seen her yet, because she is quite an elusive Jones to pin down ... she will be headlining tonight," Hughes told BBC television.

All Joneses need photo ID or a birth certificate to validate the bid. Guinness officials will attend the event.