CHARITY workers who support vulnerable people have been locked up for the night.

A group spent Tuesday night in the cells at Consett Police Station in return for sponsorship for their organisations.

They were ‘banged up’ at 9pm and not ‘released’ until 7am the following morning by County Durham’s Acting Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Steve White.

Prisoners included Helen Attewell, of NEPACS, and Ruth Wright of SSAFA.

If U Care Share provides emotional and practical support, aiming to prevent suicide, and to provide support to families and friends after suicide occurs.

Allison Younger said: “People in mental health crisis can find they have nowhere to go, and the police sometimes find they have to lock them up like a criminal. This must be horrendous.

The cell wasn’t a very nice place to be and I don’t want to go back.”