A TATTOOED and pierced motivational speaker visited a North Yorkshire school yesterday to preach tolerance - and encourage hugging.

The 51-year-old American, who is known simply as Scary Guy, spent the day at Risedale Community College, in Hipswell, near Catterick Garrison.

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

Scary Guy launched a one-man campaign against intolerance after he read a full-page advertisement in a newspaper in Arizona, branding people such as him as "scary guys with war paint and facial tattoos".

Headteacher Tadeusz Zaranko said the aim of the visit was to build students' tolerance and improve the way staff and pupils treated each other.

He said: "The students found it very thought-provoking. The good news is that he will be back in the new year."

After school, a mother called teachers to say thank you after her teenage son had gone home and given her a hug.