SPECIAL school superheroes came to the rescue on Friday in a costume caper enjoyed by staff and pupils.

More than 40 children at Shepherds Down School, in Compton, donned homemade outfits to parade through their grounds.

They were joined by a league of staff superheroes led by ‘Carrot Man’.

The junior school pupils, who suffer from a wide range of conditions and learning difficulties, have been studying heroes real and mythological this half term, from Thor and Hercules to Florence Nightingale and local police.

The course has included a film trip, collages and designs for capes, cuffs, masks and ‘power packs’.

Hilary Grimble, deputy headteacher, said it comes as part of a revised syllabus to help meet the diverse needs of its pupils.

“We can’t have one curriculum for everyone,” she added. “It’s been an amazing topic.

“They’ve loved it.”

The programme will cover a range of topics besides superheroes to be studied over the next four years.

But don’t worry, Hampshire – the school heroes will be back to save the day in 2018.