THIS dynamic duo will lead a fundraising charge for underprivileged young people as schools and companies across York take part in Children in Need.

Clifton Green School's deputy headteacher, Simon White, and community outreach worker, John Hattam, are dressing up as Batman and Robin respectively for this year's superhero-themed efforts.

Mr Hattam said: "We've challenged our children to come in as superheroes and in assembly we will have staff doing silly things and making fools out of themselves to raise money for charity.

"Batman and Robin are two popular superheroes and represent a team, and at Clifton Green we like to promote the idea of working as a team and looking out for each other."

Children at Yearsley Grove Primary School are also dressing and having a teddy bears picnic as part of their fundraising efforts.

The youngsters will have their face painted, set up cake stalls, take part in a special Children in Need maths lesson and a sponsored fun run.

Staff and children at Askham Bar Nursery celebrated the day yesterday by dressing up in pyjamas while the rest of the week was filled with a bun sale, guessing how many sweets were in a jar, and guessing the name of a teddy.

Lakeside Primary school children were visited by charity mascot, Pudsey the Bear, on Wednesday, and will host a bake off event today.

Debbie Cousins, headteacher of the Clifton Moor school, said: "The children were amazed that he had come into our school to talk about the charity and it really helped them understand why we are working so hard to raise money this week."

Jon Rowlands, manager of Hickory's Roadhouse and Grill in York, will attempt to munch his way through four food challenges today.

He is taking on The Lawrence Light Lunch which is a 6lb burger challenge, Man v Dog which is four feet of chilli dogs, followed by 5lb of nachos and toppings and finishing with 5lb of buttermilk pancakes, blueberries and syrup.