A 15th century church steeple in northern Germany has snatched the accolade of the most tilted tower in the world from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The 27m-high steeple in the village of Suurhusen tilts at an angle of 5.19 degrees, compared to just 3.97 degrees for the Pisa tower.
'We have always known it, but now it's official,' said the pastor of the church, Frank Wessels.
In a ceremony to mark Guinness World Records Day yesterday, the book's editors handed over a certificate to mark the accomplishment.
According to local historian Tjabbo van Lessen, the church was built in marshy land in 1450 on foundations of oak tree trunks which were preserved by the water in the ground.
When the land was drained in the 19th century, the wood rotted, causing the tower to tilt.
The steeple was closed to the public in 1975 for safety reasons, but re-opened 10 years later after being made safe.
