CHILDREN were screaming with excitement in Dunfermline on Saturday as a team of superheroes assembled.

If you popped into town at the weekend you may have seen a crime-fighting squad running around and bringing smiles to faces.

Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, The Flash, Captain Marvel, Black Bolt and Buzz Lightyear all made their way from Dunfermline Town train station to the Glen Gates via the public park and High Street.

And if that wasn't enough, they happened to run into the unique trio of Darth Vader, Pikachu and a T-Rex on their travels.

The run was organised in a WhatsApp group chat that now features as many as 22 superheroes from West Fife and beyond.

Dave Roper, known for his alter-ego 'Duloch Spider-Man', started running in his costume back in March in what was supposed to be just a "one-off".

That kickstarted a movement of local men, women and children donning different identities to raise money for charities and to bring joy to those they pass in the streets.

Dave has raised around £5,500 for Calaiswood School, which his autistic son, Liam, attends.

He told the Press this week that he couldn't believe how much money had been raised and how Saturday's superhero meet-up was one of the best moments so far in his time as Spider-Man.

"I felt like I was in a Disney parade at one point when all of these kids started running over to us wanting pictures," he said.

"They all kept their distance – everyone has during all of this – but to see so many kids and adults smiling and having a good time was brilliant.

"The whole experience has been fun and Saturday was great because a lot of us got to run together and I can only imagine what it must have looked like to other people watching!

"We were sitting at the Glen Gates to rest and a group of boys shouted over that Captain America was here.

"And Buzz Lightyear was handing out Haribo.

"It was all quite surreal and has been for a while.

"I had to recently tell my wife that I was on the phone to Batman!"

Caroline Behagel de Bueren and her 10-year-old sons, Adam and Yanis, are the Darth Vader, Pikachu and T-Rex triple threat that have been gaining quite a reputation in Dunfermline.

They handed in 200kg of collections to Dunfermline Foodbank in May after locals left food and other essentials on their doorsteps in Masterton, Rosyth and Duloch.

Caroline told the Press this week that every smile made their efforts worth it.

She said: "If you can make one person happy, it's worth it. That's what my sons have said.

"The three of us have loved making people's days and meeting up with the superheroes at the weekend was fun.

"It's amazing how supportive the community has been to the three of us and to everyone else.

"They've really encouraged all of us with their love and support."