VILLAGE hall users needed a double take on arriving for evening class activities.

For the group of seven to 15-year-old dancers at tutor Ruth Lord's class at Pittington Village Hall, near Durham, were dared to dress in pyjamas this week for Children in Need.

All 19 youngsters responded to the challenge, including the lone male member of class, as well as Ruth.

The children, who normally wear shorts and t-shirts, went through their warm-up routine and then completed the full class preparing for their Christmas show next month.

Ruth said they put their initial inhibitions behind them and completed the full class in their pyjamas.

"I think they felt a bit self-conscious at first, especially when people came in for other activities and wondered why we were dressed like we were.

"But after a while, they just forgot about it and got on with the class," said Ruth, who runs several weekly classes at schools in the area and at a local health centre.

All the children were sponsored for the night, with proceeds going to the BBC Children in Need appeal.

The dance class's Christmas Show takes place at Durham Sixth Form Centre, in Providence Row, on December 13.