Londoners have set a new Guinness World record for administering the most HIV tests in eight hours to mark World AIDS Day.

G-A-Y bar, one of the most famous bars in Soho, hosted medics from nearby sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street.

They tested 745 people in eight hours on 1 December, smashing the previous record of 467 people last year.

Six people tested positive for HIV, and were taken to the nearby clinic for confirmatory tests, counselling and will return to see a doctor this week.

G-A-Y announced they would donate £10 for each person tested to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Jeremy Joseph, G-A-Y’s boss, tweeted: ‘Thanks to you 745 People now know their HIV Status & £7450 Will be donated to EJAF. Thank you & Well done. You are all amazing’

The 56 Dean Street team used the world’s fastest HIV antibody test which can get results after a finger-prick blood sample.

The event came after it was revealed by the Health Protection Agency that a record number of gay people were diagnosed with HIV in 2011.

They also said 25,000 people in the UK who have the human immunodeficiency virus were not aware they had been infected.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron also showed his support for the World AIDS Day record attempt, praising the efforts of 56 Dean Street.

He also praised charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust, the National AIDS Trust and the Food Chain, saying: ‘Together these organizations and their dedicated teams have done so much to challenge prejudice, educate people and befriend those that are ill.’

Cameron added: ‘So to everyone reading this – let us use World AIDS Day to spread the message about education, testing and early diagnosis.

‘And to everyone who has been involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS for decades now – you should feel proud of what you have done.’