A 24-year-old Colombian has been named the world's shortest living man by Guinness World Records, media reports said on Monday.

Edward Nino Hernandez, who works as a part-time dancer, measures just 70 centimeters (27 inches), and weighs only 10 kg (22lbs).

He said he felt happy because of his uniqueness, although the constant attention sometimes gets to him.

"It bothers me when people are always touching me and picking me up," Hernandez was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Hernandez's mother, Noemi, said he hadn't grown since he was two years old. Doctors never came up with a rational explanation as to why her son was so small, she added.

Before Hernandez was discovered, the previous title-holder was China's He Pingping, 74 centimeters (28.5 inches) tall, who died in March.

Hernandez is unlikely to keep his title for long, since Nepal's Khagendra Thapa Magar, currently the world's shortest living teenager at only 56 centimeters (22 inches), is expected to take up the title after he turns 18 in October.

MOSCOW, September 6 (RIA Novosti)