A Meirionnydd hill has been officially crowned the steepest street in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech has been recognised as the steepest street in the world, snatching the title away Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Judges from the Guinness Book of Records visited the hill in January and this week revealed that Ffordd Pen Llech has a gradient of 1:2.67 (37.45 per cent stretch over fall) with Baldwin Street having a gradient of 35 per cent.

Officials from Guinness World Records have presented a certificate announcing that Ffordd Pen Llech now holds the record for the steepest street in the world.

“What a long strange trip it’s been," said Gwyn Headley whose blog in August last year kicked off the bid application.

With the invaluable help and enthusiasm of Sarah Badham, who runs the Grwp Cymuned Harlech website and the Ffordd Pen Llech Facebook page, and the crucial advice of surveyor Myrddyn Philips, the residents of Harlech put an unassailable package together to win the bid.

Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor in chief, said: “The local community in Harlech has shown sheer will-power in their quest to earn Ffordd Pen Llech the title.

“We know the anticipation has been building for quite some time now and I’m pleased to see the outcome has brought such joy to the residents.

"I hope Harlech enjoys the celebrations and that the new title brings lots of people to the beautiful town, to experience the world’s steepest street for themselves!"

“It was a lot tougher than we thought,” said Mr Headley. “Guinness World Records was ultra-specific in the criteria demanded for it to qualify as the steepest street in the world, and although we were confident in meeting or exceeding nine of them, we were worried about the 10th.”

Guinness World Records required a blueprint of the street. The Harlech bid justified its absence because the street has been there since time immemorial, at least a thousand years old, and blueprints only date from 1842.

Mr Headley added: “I feel sorry for Baldwin Street and the New Zealanders — but steeper is steeper. At least they have the Rugby World Cup... for the moment."