Melissa taped out the message in less than half a minute
A Salford woman has laid claim to the title of the world's fastest texter.
Melissa Thompson was invited to have a go at speed-texting at a promotional stand in the Lowry Outlet Mall on the Quays.
She tapped out a complicated 25 word message in an impressive 25.94 seconds, beating the present world record by just under ten seconds.
She said that the idea of holding a world record was "completely overwhelming".
Melissa, who was out shopping with her partner when she attempted the record, admitted that she was a regular texter, but said that she was out of practice.
"I used to do a hell of a lot [of texting], but it's died down recently," she explained.
"But clearly, I've not lost any of it."
To try for the world record, Melissa had to type a complex message, which she described as being "quite long-winded and with plenty of big words", as quickly as possible without mistakes.
Her words were a fitting description for the text, which read 'The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.'
HOW FAST CAN YOU TEXT?
'The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.'
Melissa Thompson texted this in 25.94 secs
It's the same sentence that the current holder of the title of world's fastest texter, Franklin Page from Seattle in America, typed out in 35.54 seconds in March this year.
Both Melissa's and Franklin's times were recorded using touch screen text inputting software which allows the user to input whole words, letter by letter, without taking their finger off their mobile phone.
Melissa said that the possibility of being the world's fastest texter was "overwhelming", but that her friends and family had been keeping her feet on the ground in the usual manner.
"They've been winding me up, more than anything, all day."
"In work, I got in this morning and they were all cheering and they had all the cut-outs from the papers.
"My team leader has just been joking all day, saying that my computer skills should be better than my texting skills."
Melissa explained she had only taken part because the mobile phone company staff had asked her to, but with
speed-texting now having a world championship
, she said she'd love to have a go at an international level.
"To be honest, I never thought I'd win this one," she said.
"They just said 'you should try it', so I did. I never thought anything like this would come of it at all."
Guinness World Records have now been notified of Melissa's claim.
It's just a matter of time before she finds out whether she really is 'the world's fastest texter.'