SUPERHEROES swooped into schools and workplaces across the region as thousands raised funds for Children in Need.

In Bishop Auckland, Cockton Hill Junior School saw Batman, the Incredible Hulk and Cat Woman among the heroes chosen by 240 pupils and staff for their fundraiser.

Everyone donated £1 to Children in Need to take part and a special assembly was held to give youngsters an insight into the projects the annual fundraising appeal supports.

Batman, also known as year four teacher Andrea Farlow, said: “As a school we always try to support charity events. The atmosphere here is fantastic and the children have developed a great understanding of Children in Need. They really care and want to help.”

In Stockton young people working with Stockton Borough Council's Youth Direction have been visiting locations all across the borough with their On Your Bike Challenge, which sees keen volunteers get on board static bikes to cycle the distance from John O’Groats to Lands’ End.

Stockton High Street was the host of the BBC North East and Cumbria's live coverage during the Children in Need broadcast, featuring the town's first ever Onesie Party.

Fundraisers from across the region were invited to attend the event in Stockton to hand in their cheques for Pudsey.

During the party young people from the Youth Direction team completed the final leg of their fundraising cycling journey.

Thrillseekers whizzed across the town centre earlier in the day on a 240m zip wire challenge. Staff from Stockton Riverside College, including principal Phil Cook, assistant principal Jason Faulkner, director of business and development Michelle Elliott and head of marketing and recruitment Vicky Petrie, were among the brave volunteers taking part.

Back at the college dozens of students and staff showed their support for a good cause by dressing up in onesies and fancy dress, with a range of fundraising activities also taking place including beauty treatments and cake stalls.

Mr Cook, dressed as a Jedi Knight, said: “It’s great to be involved in something like this. The college sits at the heart of its communities and whilst we demonstrate this by providing quality education and training we can also demonstrate it through active engagement in the community - that doesn’t mean we are not scared.”

Curtis Thomas, a year 10 pupil at Unity City Academy (UCA) in Middlesbrough also had a hair-raising experience by cutting off the ponytail he’d been growing for charity for the last five years to raise funds for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, as well as Children In Need.

The school was helping him reach his £500 goal by holding an auction, with the winner getting the chance to cut off the teenager’s hair.

He said: “I now have a decent ponytail so it’ll be quite strange to have it cut off. All I am bothered about though is raising as much as I can for the two charities that are important to me.”

In Darlington, pupils at Darlington School of Maths and Science got into the spirit of the day by wearing Pudsey ears, while year three and four children at High Coniscliffe Primary School took charge of planning a day of fundraising activities, including nerf gun battles, penalty shoot outs and the chance to throw a custard pie at the headteacher, Wendy Aitken.

Mrs Aitken said: "The class children and their parents have shown great enthusiasm for this project and are extremely excited about not only running their events and taking over for a day but also raising money for children just like them."

In North Yorkshire, Northallerton High Street firm Colin Hutson Accounting held a cake sale and six staff at the Monkbar Hotel in York pedalled 166 miles on an exercise bike.

Pupils at Norton College, in Ryedale, took on the teachers at various sports and held a cake sale and karaoke event, while children at Amotherby School, near Malton, aimed to top the £720 they raised last year by dressing in pyjamas and holding a cake sale.

Henry Calvert, a year six pupil at Cundall Manor School, near Thirsk, organised a music and drama performance, which raised more than £1,100.

Children at Pittington Primary School, near Durham, dressed up as their favourite characters to raise cash for the cause.

Headteacher Cathy Lee said: “I think it’s a really different and fun way to support Children In Need. Our students and their parents always do us proud every year by designing their own superheroes.”

Pittington pupil Courtney Nel, nine, expressed her support for their school’s campaign, which she believes helps involve younger people in the annual Children In Need appeal.

“It’s always a lot of fun, especially for the younger pupils,” said Courtney, who dressed as Mrs Incredible. “It’s a good way of helping Children In Need.”