A 72-year-old man from western Nepal is hoping to prove to Guinness World Records that he is the world's shortest man.

Chandra Bahadur Dangi claims to be only 22in (56cm) tall.

Guinness World Records currently recognises Junrey Balawing of the Philippines, who is 23.5in (60cm) tall, as the shortest man in the world.

Mr Dangi's nephew, Dolak Dangi, said today that his uncle would meet Guinness officials in the capital, Katmandu, in the next few days to be measured.

Guinness World Records was not immediately available for comment.

Another Nepalese man, Khagendra Thapa Magar, was known as the world's shortest man, at 26.4in (67cm), before Mr Balawing took over the title on his 18th birthday in June.

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