PUPILS at a North-East school got a helping hand with their fundraising when the cast of Blue Peter turned up to publicise their work.

Youngsters at North Ormesby Primary School, North Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, are among pupils of schools across the country taking part in a charity bring-and-buy sale.

Blue Peter filmed the event – which included guests from the cast of Aladdin – yesterday, with the money going towards the programme’s Mission Nutrition Appeal, which will help children in the UK, as well as in Bangladesh, Columbia and South Africa.

Tim Levell, editor of Blue Peter, said: “Every five seconds, another child dies from hunger-related causes. We hope Mission Nutrition will present a real opportunity for children to understand more about food, where it comes from, how to grow their own, what is healthy, and what the challenges are to eating well for children around the world.”