IT'S not often you see cartoon characters dancing in a playground, but yesterday a North-East school was full of colour and fancy costumes.

Children at Sacred Heart Primary School, Middlesbrough, dressed up as their favourite characters - and teachers were only too willing to join in the fun.

The fancy dress event was part of the school sport support programme run by Middlesbrough Council, to encourage health, fitness and dance classes for the 282 pupils at the school.

To celebrate the success of the scheme and raise money for school equipment, staff and pupils performed the sponsored dance in the playground.