Primary schoolchildren in Abingdon met a Scary Guy on December 9, but left with smiles on their faces.

The self-styled Scary Guy and his wife Julie Kaufmann spoke to about 300 pupils from Thameside, Carswell and Caldecott schools about tackling racism and violence.

Scary Guy and his wife Julie Kaufmann

With his tattoos and body-piercings, the Scary Guy has based himself on the American comic-book hero and has developed an international mission to eliminate hate and prejudice, by teaching people not to judge others by their appearance.

He was invited to speak to the schoolchildren by Julie Chung, of youth group Megamates.

Ms Chung said: "His message is simple, but very effectively and dramatically delivered, and I hope this will have a big impact on the children and their attitudes towards one another."

The get-together at the Guildhall was also supported by the Vale of White Horse District Council and the three schools' head teachers.

Mary De Vere, Vale district councillor for the South Abingdon Caldecott ward, and a governor of Thameside School, added: "South Abingdon has some very specific problems which the Vale is addressing in a number of innovative ways."