A 59-year-old man has beaten the world record for the number of consecutive passes by a pair in water polo.

Mark Freed and partner Charlie Exall managed 95 passes, 30 more than the previous record.

The avid player of the sport for 40 years said: "After a little bit of research, I thought the record of 65 consecutive passes by a pair sounds achievable, surely I can do that."

Mark Freed and Charlie Exall gear up to break water polo passes world record

With an application made, a date set and training in full swing, everything was going to plan when Mr Freed's original partner, Danny Hanlon, was struck down with pneumonia.

But after scouting a stand-in, 25-year-old Charlie Exall, another member of Sevenoaks Water Polo Team, he was back in the game.

The big day of the world record attempt arrived - Tuesday, March 12.

"I was nervous- there was a small crowd, a cameraman and quite a lot of pressure."

Seven metres apart in a four metre deep swimming pool, the men set themselves quite the challenge.

"The first attempt ended with me dropping the ball after about 20 passes. Second attempt I did the same at 61, agonisingly close to the record. Third attempt (last chance – getting tired) stop counting, breathe, relax, just do it.

"I was overjoyed - the new (subject to confirmation) world record stands at 95."

The CEO of financial services company E2W who lives on The Green, West Peckham with wife Tina, added: "We hope by breaking the record we can make people more aware of the sport.

"We want it to be recognised as a way of keeping young people engaged in water based sports, as well as attracting those from other ball sports who might see it as a way of continuing to compete when the body is perhaps not up to higher impact sports."

Water polo is a seven-a-side game played in a pool, where a football-sized ball is thrown into the opponents' net.

The challenge was part of Mr Freed's list to accomplish by his 60th birthday.

About 10 years ago, he created his first list, ticking off cycling to Bordeaux and completing a triathlon.

He hopes the new list will be just as triumphant.