It has already graced the Lord Mayor's procession and could now be destined for the pages of the Guinness Book of Records.

This huge wooden wassail, or punch bowl, is believed to be the largest in the world and was made in Sussex.

It was on a float during the parade in London at the weekend.

Standing at just over 4ft high, it was used by the Worshipful Company of Turners on its float - designed to represent the history of woodcraft - and was big enough to hold the group's worshipful master inside.

Also featured was the giant lathe which was used to turn the bowl for decoration.

Roger Buse, of Hegner UK, a woodwork manufacturer in Hailsham, was responsible for the lathe and the wassail.

The bowl weighs a third of a tonne and was based on a 400-year-old design, chosen to coincide with the 400th birthday of the Worshipful Company of Turners.

Mr Buse, who has run the company for the last 15 years with his wife, said the bowl had taken several months to create.

He said: "It has been made over quite a few months, with the cutting of the timber and being made into a barrel. When it was all assembled it was made by professional turner, Steven Cooper, in three days at a show."

Mr Buse, who prepared the wood and sponsored the creation of the bowl, hopes it will be used to help good causes.

He said it would probably be used to collect for the Lord Mayor's charity and put in London's Guildhall.

The bowl holds about 90 gallons of liquid.

It is believed to be the largest wassail vessel in the world and Mr Buse has applied to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Punch from wassail bowls was originally used to sprinkle over apple tree roots in the hope of a good harvest.

From this, the tradition of wassailing grew when carol singers would call at the homes of the wealthy and be invited in for a drink from the bowl.