A TATTOOED and pierced motivational speaker is touring schools in the region on a mission to stamp out hate, violence and prejudice.

The 51-year-old American, known simply as Scary Guy, will spend the next fortnight visiting secondary and primary schools in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in a bid to improve pupils' behaviour.

Among the tactics used by the former tattoo artist is the seven-day challenge, where for seven days and seven nights pupils try not say one negative word about another person.

Scary Guy is a regular visitor to Pindar School, in Scarborough.

Headteacher Hugh Bellamy said he had seen positive results after the first session.

"When I took on the position here the school was in urgent need of change," he said

"We had one of the worst behavioural records and one of the lowest performance records in the whole of the North Yorkshire region.

"Since Scary Guy has been visiting us, we have already seen amazing results and noticeable changes."

The initiative is funded by Scarborough communications company GA Pindar and Son.

Chairman Andrew Pindar said: "As a business, we believe that investing in the long-term development of the community in which we live and work is essential."

Scary Guy has worked in schools across the North-East, including English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, in Hartlepool, and Lord Lawson of Beamish School, in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.