4/11/2006

A total of 1,224 people named Jones descended on Cardiff last night to claim the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of people with one surname.

Joneses came from as far as Australia and America to beat the record held in Sweden by 583 people called Noberg.

Jones is the most common surname in Wales and derives from the first name John. Last night's show, billed as "Jones Jones Jones", featured music, dance and comedy.

Grace Jones, a former Bond girl, supermodel and 1980s pop star, performed hits from her album Slave to the Rhythm. Opera singers Dame Gwyneth Jones and Gwyn Hughes Jones were among other performers.

But probably the most famous Jones, the singer Tom Jones, could not take part because his real surname is Woodward.