YOUNGSTERS ditched their school uniforms and dressed as a gangster, sumo wrestlers, superheroes and cricketers for poorly children.

Two hundred children put the fun into fundraising as they took part in the Bolton School junior boys' annual fun run.

Pupils from years three to six and staff members donned their wild and wacky fancy dress outfits to run in pair relays around the running track to raise funds for the charities Derian House Children’s Hospice and Cancer Research UK.

The annual fun run is the junior boys’ main charity event of the year and raises thousands of pounds for its nominated causes.

This year saw the boys in a wide range of costumes — many dressed as animals, football players, the ever popular "118" twins, pirates, members of the armed forces, super-heroes and gangsters as well as fruit and vegetables, Sumo wrestlers and even a pair of Bolton School junior girls.

They were joined by new headmistress Susan Faulkner, who was dressed as a carrot and her partner for the race fellow staff member Emma Hicks, who was a rabbit.

Parents turned up to cheer the boys on throughout the afternoon and join in the fun.

Pupils were sponsored to take part and will collect their sponsorship money over the next few weeks before presenting their chosen charities with their cheques.

Miss Hicks said: “The fun run is always an exciting afternoon, and although the sun may not have shone there was plenty of colour on the field.

"The boys always do us proud, dressing up in a range of costumes and raising money for worthy charities which they select.

"I’m sure that many of the boys will already be planning next year’s costume.”