There'll be wall-to-wall wigs and hundreds of hats when an attempt to set a bizarre new record is made in Bath this weekend.

Organisers of the city's Jane Austen Festival have so far persuaded 350 enthusiasts to don period costume to set a record for the largest gathering of people in Regency costume ever seen.

There are strict rules for the attempt, which will take place during the festival's traditional Grand Regency Promenade on Saturday morning.

The participants must be in full Regency attire and stay together in one place - the Assembly Rooms - for at least 10 minutes.

The promenade is a spectacular costumed parade through the centre of the city where the author lived at the end of the 18th century and set her novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.

It begins at 11am on Saturday from the Roman Baths and makes its way through The Circus and the Royal Crescent, before finishing in Queen Square.

As well as a host of Darcy and Elizabeth types, a town crier, people dressed as naval personnel, and musicians will also be in attendance during the event, along with re-enactment groups and societies such as the 32nd Cornwall Regiment and a group of hobby horse-riding enthusiasts called The Dandy Chargers.

Everyone taking part in the record attempt will have to register by signing in at the Assembly Rooms and the rules say men must wear knee-high boots, tail or long greatcoats, tall neckties, floppy shirts and tight breeches.

Women have to wear full-length dresses with a high waistline, low cut neck and bonnet.

All participants must also carry or wear the right accessories such as gloves and shawls, although parasols, fans, canes or walking sticks are optional.

Festival organisers will have experienced timekeepers on hand to time the attempt to a hundredth of a second, and will submit photos, video footage and the registration documents to Guinness World Records.

Among those taking part will be a couple from Suffolk who will later in the day get married in Regency costume.

Kelly Walpole and Ian Charlesworth will tie the knot at the Guildhall at 4pm on Saturday and have invited costumed festival-goers to help celebrate their big day. After they have exchanged vows, wedding pictures will be taken at the Royal Crescent - accompanied by a volley of shots fired by the Cornwall Regiment..

Festival director Jackie Herring said: "With both the world record attempt and Regency wedding happening on the same day, this promises to be the best opening weekend to a Jane Austen Festival in its nine-year history."

Mr Charlesworth added: "We wanted to do something unusual and special for our big day, so what better than to get married during the Jane Austen Festival and be surrounded by hundreds of people dressed in Regency costume?"

The festival, organised by the Jane Austen Museum, runs until September 27, with a programme of 44 events which includes walking tours, dance lessons, talks, workshops and performances.

It attracts Jane Austen fans from all parts of the globe. Tickets and details for all events can be accessed at www.janeausten.co.uk/festival.