STUDENTS might be familiar with relying on energy drinks as they work into the night to reach a deadline.

But using the drinks to get them transport, food and even somewhere to stay was something totally new to Lucy Yates, Macadie Amoroso and Isaac Murphy.

The Essex University performing arts scholars competed in the Red Bull Can You Make It? adventure.

Their challenge was to use the brand of energy drink’s cans as their only currency to get them across European countries in seven days, which concluded in Amsterdam yesterday.

Gazette: Pit stop - the Bards outside Koln station in Germany

Travelling - the team outside Cologne station in Germany 

The team, called Bards on Tour, began their 1,800-mile adventure in Stockholm, Sweden.

The tenacious trio had to hand over their cash and mobile phones for 24 cans of Red Bull.

From there they could pick which order to try to reach all six checkpoints.

They had to persuade strangers to pay for travel tickets, feed them and give them places to stay.

Lucy, 19, said: “For two nights we had nowhere to go so slept in McDonald’s until we were kicked out, and the same in a hotel lobby.

“We spent one night in a hotel after somebody paid for us and a lot of the time we were travelling on a night bus.”

Gazette: Refuel - the team managed to blag a bite

Hungry - the team managed to blag a bite

From Sweden they wangled bus tickets to Copenhagen.

Here a video appeal on Facebook earned them an overnight stay with a family who then took them to a ferry.

That went to Germany where they camped out.

A train ride to Hamburg was followed by a bus to Berlin, followed by buses to Leipzig, Cologne, Luxembourg and Amsterdam.

The group was chosen to complete against 200 students from 60 countries after sending a video into organisers.

Gazette: Sightseeing - outside Cologne cathedral

Happy - the team outside Cologne Cathedral 

Lucy added: “We are so glad we did it, it was a really unforgettable experience and more than anything we are just happy with how we worked as a team. It teaches you about generosity in people.”

Winners will be announced soon. but teams will be marked on scores earned from ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ on Facebook, challenges accomplished and checkpoints reached.