Children from around the world were asked to describe an imagined encounter with a "superhero", in a touching new video from Save the Children.

The video - made in collaboration with Bafta-winning agency Don’t Panic - aims to raise awareness of the millions of children struggling to survive in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

According to the charity, 17,000 children under five die every day from preventable diseases like malaria and diarrhoea, in areas where extreme poverty is widespread.

The two-minute film follows a group of documentary-makers as they investigate the sighting of "superheroes".  

The crew document their moving encounters with children who claim to have been saved by the elusive heroes. The children shown in the film were those being supported by Save the Children – and were filmed in real-life settings over the course of a week.

Richard Beer, creative director of Don’t Panic, said: “Just surviving every day as a child in some of the world’s poorest places requires almost superhuman effort. Save the Children are doing everything they can, but the world needs more superheroes who are willing to fight for these children’s lives. We hope this video will be their call to action.”

The film’s release coincides with the launch of Save the Children’s annual global campaign, Race for Survival, and the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty today.