MASKED villains and caped crusaders have swooped into a school to help celebrate superhero day.

Ash Trees Academy in Billingham, which supports pupils with severe learning difficulties and complex medical needs, invited pupils to dress up as their favourite comic book character.

Pupils were given the opportunity to take part in a superhero treasure hunt and use problem solving skills to foil villains in a mock bomb disposal.

Wendy Coates, head of the academy, said: “All our pupils have been learning about superheroes and recognising that each one of them has something special about them that makes them a superhero too.

“Our children may face issues with different levels of ability but they have the same aspirations and expectations that all children have and each one of them has shown that they are all heroes.”