Children in Need superheroes foil real crime in Market Deeping

Members of Deeping Round Table proved their motto of “ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things” is correct on Friday night.

The group of 10 men dressed as two supermen, two batmen, Robin, the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Buzz Lightyear, Captain America and Pudsey Bear, were visiting businesses in Market Deeping collecting funds for Children in Need.

Member James Wright, who was dressed as Superman, said that as the group were leaving a pub, they saw two young people in the road, one of which they’d previously seen kicking a car.

A van driver then approached the group and said they believed the young men had damaged his vehicle - and he gave chase in his van as the youths ran away.

James said: “We just thought we couldn’t let him go off on his own so we piled into our minibus and followed him.”

The van driver lost the youths and left, before the super group spotted them and apprehended the youths before calling police.

James said: “We’ve been doing this for about six years and certainly nothing like this has ever happened before.

“We were just out having a good night and raising money for a worthwhile cause. We all just thought the whole thing was very amusing.”

Market Deeping and Deeping St James Neighbourhood Policing Team posted on Facebook that they were surprised to arrive “at a reported incident of criminal damage in Market Deeping to discover the suspects had already been detained” by the group.

The post added: “Thanks guys, you’re our heroes! #justiceleague.”

A police spokesman confirmed the incident to the Mercury and said the two youths, aged 14 and 15, had been released while inquiries were ongoing to ascertain how the vehicles, a blue Mazda and a van, had been damaged.

As well as foiling the crime, the real-life superheroes managed to raise a fantastic £1,902 for Children in Need.

And the group have been inundanted with comments since the police post on Facebook.

James added: “It’s all been a bit overwhelming.”