If you sat down at a bank to discuss your mortgage and came face-to-face with John Lynch you would get something of a shock.

For the former Barclays Bank manager has made the record books for being the person with the most body piercings in the world.

With a total of 241 altogether, the 78-year-old now takes pride of place as one of the record breakers in the 2010 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

The eccentric pensioner boasts 150 piercings on his head and neck alone and has had to give up flying as he kept setting off the security scanners.

To go along with his piercings, Mr Lynch also has hundreds of tattoos, including a huge image of Marilyn Monroe that covers most of his torso.

In order to get into the record books his numerous adornments had to be individually counted and verified by an official from Guinness World Records.

To begin with he was actually short a few piercings, but he solved that problem by simply adding another 20 onto his arms.

After working for Barclays Bank for 30 years, Mr Lynch, now also known by his nickname Prince Albert, didn't get his first piercing, which was in his eyebrow, until he was in his 40s.

At the same time, he also got his first tattoo - a picture of an eagle on his right arm.

Since that moment his body art has multiplied and, with his somewhat fearsome appearance, he has become a famous character in his hometown of Apsely, Hertfordshire.

And Mr Lynch isn't concerned about losing his record as, he says, he's always get plenty more room for a few more piercings.

MUST CREDIT PHOTOS BY: Peter Simpson / Rex Features