Gladiators take on pupils in egg and spoon race

Gladiators from the BBC game show took on school children to help raise money for Comic Relief

Children at a primary school were given a surprise when Gladiators from the BBC game show descended on their school.

Seven Gladiators visited the Suffolk school to go head to head with pupils in a series of games for Comic Relief.

St Gregory Primary School in Sudbury had planned its own Gladiators-style event involving teachers and pupils as part of their fund-raising effort. But they were stunned when the real Gladiators turned up.

Head teacher Daniel Woodrow said it was a day the school "will never forget".

The Gladiators took part in games including egg and spoon races against the children

"As a school we had planned to have a teachers versus children Gladiators on Red Nose Day - all non-contact events including things that might involve dodge balls, water pistols and things like that," said Mr Woodrow.

"When we told Comic Relief about it they said they had the Gladiators eager to help and keen to support the charity."

The head teacher added the visit, on 5 March, was a "complete surprise" for the children.

"They had no idea that they were coming," he said. "This is a day that the children - in fact the whole school - will never forget."

Gladiators Bionic, Diamond, Nitro and Electro were among those who went head to head with pupils.

Speaking about the pupils, Nitro told the BBC: "Comic Relief think these guys are amazing fundraisers and it's nice to celebrate that with them."

Red Nose Day will be broadcast on BBC One on Friday.

This year will see Sir Lenny Henry host the show for the final time after nearly 40 years.