LAW officers will turn a blind eye to a mass breakout from a police station to help a five-year-old girl.

The cell doors at the Southwick station, in Sunderland, will be accidentally left unlocked and an electronically-controlled side door will be half open, enabling 30 people to go on the run on Thursday.

The volunteers will have just three hours of freedom to raise cash by sponsorship for Hope Elliott, of the Red House estate, Sunderland, who needs a series of operations on her face.

The event has been organised by the Sunderland Youth Impact Project. Those going on the run are police officers, youth workers and young people from the area, who want to help Hope.