Since August last year, the Chatham, Kent-based book printer has invested more than £6m in new kit including a Muller Martini Corona binding line and Timson "zero make ready" web press to improve efficiency.

Mike Taylor, CPI UK chief executive, said that it was good to see the plans that were formulated two years ago now bearing fruit.

He also hinted at further investment, predicting that the record would not last longer than 12 months.

The record included a number of hardback titles, including the fattest hardback ever produced at the site, the recently released biography of the Queen Mother by William Shawcross.