A GROUP of villagers inspired by a schoolgirl’s fundraising efforts are set to prove that villains and heroines can work together for the greater good.

Designer Paul Considine, engineer Russell Moxham, finance manager Caroline Day and bank manager Fiona Moxham will dress up as Wacky Races characters Dick Dastardly, The Hooded Claw, Penelope Pitstop and Muttley to contest against 32 other teams in the Micklegate Run Soapbox over the ancient cobbled street in York on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ahead of the event, which will see powerless vehicles launched off a six-metre ramp, the team from Helperby, near Easingwold, have spent more than 400 hours creating a replica of Pitstop’s Compact Pussycat bright pink sports car. It features wings, a pair of lips and eyes shaped out of high density polysterene.

Mr Moxham said the team had been inspired to take part in the event for the Little Princess Trust by serial fundraiser Chloe Minting, 12, who also lives in the village.

He said: “We’ve been really impressed by Chloe’s determination to raise funds for the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to children and young people with hair loss. The Micklegate Run will be excellent fun, but at the end of the day we want to raise as much money as possible for the trust as it does such important work.” To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/micklegate-run-2019