Two Essex friends are using the internet to try to put together the longest nonsense story in the world - and want This Is Essex readers to contribute.

Wacky Tony Wicks and Ryan Green are putting together gobbledegook which falls into sentences but is virtually impossible to read out loud - or for any length of time.

The big question is: why are they doing it?

Net enthusiast Tony, 29, Hobart Close, Chelmsford, said: "I think the internet is often used for trite boring things - except This Is Essex, of course.

"Ryan and I like nonsense. There's hardly any swearing or anything really offensive in our story, only words you may come across by looking in the dictionary, or perhaps listening to President Clinton's recent testimony."

Tony said This Is Essex readers could pick up the style of writing by visiting the nonsense site and e-mail contributions to add to the story.

He added: "It's really a case of the more the merrier... tell your friends, tell your neighbours or e-mail the link around the world.

"Even girls can contribute if they must...!

"I don't know if there's a Guinness Book of Records category for this, but there soon may be."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.