Being held to ransom behind bars - but all in a good cause.

Shoppers in Colchester High Street saw mayor Martin Hunt led away from the town hall by off-duty police officers to join other "prisoners" in Colchester Castle.

And until they raised £500 each that's where they had to stay - but they were given a buffet lunch and champagne to while away the hours.

Plus they had free use of mobile phones to call accomplices to come up with the cash for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

It was hoped that £10,000 would be raised to enable the charity to fully tissue type 200 new potential bone marrow donors to help save the lives of children with leukaemia.

Area manager Bronwen Nicholls said: "All the convicts were very willing to take part and it was a fun event. It was fantastic."

Those taking part included Tim Cowan from Group Four Marketing, Paul Roberts from Essex University Students' Union, Julie Paul from Halifax Building Society and Julie Bailey from Asher, Prior and Bates, solicitors.

Also behind bars were Bernard King from the Midland Bank, Dr Philip Murray from the oncology department at Essex County Hospital, Ian Ritchie from Lancaster, Simon Taylor from SGR Radio and Justin Bones from BBC Essex.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.