A COMIC set a world record last night for the longest stand-up routine after he performed his comedy show for a continuous 24 hours.

Mark Watson ended his Over-ambitious show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at 11.55pm.

Just before he set the record, the comic said he was confident the show would go the distance.

He said: ''I'm feeling remarkably well, considering. I expected a dip in energy around 4am, but it didn't happen, largely because I had such a good audience to keep me going. But around 10am, when I realised I still had more than half a show to go, I wondered what I had let myself in for.''

The 24-year-old laughed off suggestions, however, that he would ''do a Paula Radcliffe''.

On Sunday, Radcliffe, the heroine of British athletics, pulled out of the women's marathon at the Olympic Games.

Highlights of the comic marathon included a debate about the existence of God, a look back at Euro 2004, and readings from Bullet Points, Watson's debut novel.

Explaining why he attempted such a feat, the London-based comic, who earlier said he had ''loose plans'' for every hour of the performance, explained: ''The idea just came into my head and, once it was there, I couldn't go back. Part of it is also because for some time I've felt the spirit of Edinburgh has wasted away a bit.

''It's become very commercial and competitive and a bit like a career treadmill.

''I wanted to try to buck that trend and I quite like endurance acts and the idea of doing things others wouldn't try.

''So I guess it's a mixture of bloody-mindedness and Puritanism.''

Minutes into his performance, the comic had to switch to a larger auditorium at the Cowgate venue, still delivering his act, after about 100 ticket-holders arrived for the show at Wilkie House Chapel, which has a 60-seat capacity.

Amy Butterworth, a 20-year-old student, was one of around 15 ''lifers'' at the show - audience members who intended to remain for the full 24 hours.

Halfway through the event, she said: ''I was supposed to return home to London today, but I'm enjoying the show so much I've decided to stay on another day. I feel fine and it's been a great party atmosphere, and the audience really gets to feel involved.''

Watson, a former Cambridge Footlights member, has performed at the Fringe in four previous years, winning the Daily Telegraph Open Mic award in 2002.