Shoppers got more than they bargained for in Cork City at the weekend as part of a novel arts initiative.

More than 300 people have reason to celebrate after learning they have officially smashed a world record for the most bodies simultaneously covered in paint.

They didn’t just barely do it — they smashed it.

A cheeky bid to break a body-painting world record led to panic buying in Cork yesterday after the city’s clothes stores sold out of men’s thongs.

Hundreds of people have signed up to strip off for a world-record- breaking naked body- painting attempt in Cork this weekend.