IT is make or break this weekend for a committed North-East monarchist's bid to enter the Guinness Book of Records.

Part-time magistrate Anita Atkinson, from Fir Trees, near Crook, County Durham, has stashed away more than 1,200 pictures, plates and trinkets, and countless newspapers and magazines.

This amazing collection snowballed from a pack of jubilee playing cards she was given in 1976. Most items have been given to Anita, who sometimes finds carrier bags of memorabilia left at her back door.

On Sunday she will be one step closer to discovering if she really does have the largest collection in the world, when it will be officially catalogued and sent to the Guinness Book of Records.

The hoard will be transported to Ireshopeburn Literary Institute on Friday by building firm Pinkney Builders, who are keeping their commitment despite the fuel crisis.

Once at the institute it will be catalogued and counted by an army of volunteers and checked by an outside verifier.

People can have a preview of the collection at a cheese and wine at the Institute on Friday evening. Tickets, costing £2 on the door, will raise money for Ireshopeburn Millennium Playground Scheme, which aims to provide rural children with play equipment.

Anita said: "I don't mind if I don't get the record, at least I've helped IMPS.

"Apart from anything else I've never seen the collection all together in one place. I'm really excited about it."