CELEBRITY fundraiser Sir Jimmy Savile has thrown his weight behind a project to expand and improve the village hall and school in Sutton under Whitestonecliffe.

The former DJ and TV presenter arrived in Thirsk police's Skoda Octavia patrol car, driven by Sgt Jon Hunter, to the applause and cheers of 40 pupils.

Wearing a brightly-coloured suit and dark glasses, Sir Jimmy was greeted by children, as well as staff, governors and parents. He had agreed to give a lesson in a bid to raise the profile of the village's £300,000 project to expand and improve the village hall and the school.

His links with the area stem from his charity runs up and down Sutton Bank.

"I hold the record for running up and down Sutton Bank four times for the Telethon," he said. "It also happens to be my favourite area in the world."

Sir Jimmy began his lesson on Yorkshire folklore by praising the children on their intelligence and inviting them to ask him questions. He went on to teach them to sing On Ilkley Moor Baht'at.

The committee co-ordinating the village hall development project hopes he will give more help to the fundraising efforts.

Mr Stephen Twist, clerk to the committee co-ordinating the village hall development, said: "At the moment we're in discussions on the viability of a Sutton Bank road race.

"We would like Jimmy to start the race and possibly compete in it, going down Sutton Bank. It will probably be in the spring or summer."

Before he left, Sir Jimmy promised £500 towards the project.