Children from an Oldham school have raised more than £3,500 for the Pakistan flood relief efforts with the help of the 'Running Man' of Oldham, Afruz Miah BEM.

Students at St Thomas School in Werneth, where Mr Miah's daughter attends, decided that they wanted to carry out a run to raise money for different causes, including foodbanks, Children in Need and the Pakistan Flood Appeal.

With the help of Mr Miah, the children were able to complete their running challenge and raise thousands of pounds.

Laura Carruthers, a teacher at St Thomas School, said: "The Running Man’s daughter is in year six and we found out about his fundraising campaigns.

"I contacted him and asked if he could come into the school as an inspirational person."

"I told him that we wanted to do a run and he suggested that he would join the fundraising run."

Mr Miah is known for his fundraising challenges, which include running from Oldham to London while fasting for Ramadan, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and recently walking from Oldham to Bradford, efforts which saw him receive a British Empire Medal at the start of this year.

Along with children from every year group, Mr Miah and the students ran a lap of the school pitch and there was also a sponsored race.

Ms Carruthers said the amount raised was the most the school had ever raised through a campaign and thanked the students' parents for their generosity.

She added: "We are really proud of our children who have spearheaded the campaign.

"I helped with their ideas and organisation but fundamentally this effort came from them.

"It was they who raised this money."

Mr Miah said: "Recently I’ve been requested by a number of schools and colleges to talk about my journey in life, my previous health issues, charity work and receiving a BEM.

"Hopefully this will inspire and motivate them, I hope the children realise that if I could do it, then they will be able to do the same and more."