Described as a sport on the popular social networking site, the Lying Down Game asks members to submit pictures of themselves lying face down, as straight as possible and with hands by their sides.

Nearly 1,200 pictures have already been sent in to the group, with residents photographing themselves in locations across Mansfield and around the country in a bid to be part of the phenomenon.

Said 22-year-old Sutton resident Ryan North, who created the Mansfield group: "It isn't really my idea, I saw it in the papers in July and thought it looked like fun — so I found the group on Facebook and saw there were a lot of people in it already.

"I decided I'd do a group for Mansfield so that all my mates could see the pictures I'd done and we could see who got the best ones. It's just taken off from there."

The bizarre fad has so far taken the nation by storm, with ever more unusual pictures appearing of people in famous locations around the world — from Stonehenge to the Colosseum in Rome.

"I think people do it for the competitive aspect," said Ryan. "I can't think of any other reason anyone would want to be doing it!

"There's been a few good ones sent in to our group, there's one of three toilet cubicles with people in and a bloke lying across the top of them. I like my one lying on top of the Mansfield Man — there's so many good ones, I'm going to try and make a top 20 gallery or something."

Suspended

The game drew more attention earlier this month when seven staff members at a hospital in Swindon were suspended for taking pictures of themselves lying down around the hospital while on duty.

"I think it's just a bit of fun really, the people that were suspended they just took it too far," said Ryan.

"I've had people come up and blame me for starting it and getting them fired so I have to explain I didn't start it!

"I get a lot of attention when I'm out as well from people who recognise me from the group. A lot of the time I try to explain to them, but sometimes I just let them think I started the Lying Down Game.

"I think it will die down in time like any craze, the number of people joining has slowed down a bit lately –– there's only so many places where you can lie down really!"