IT SEEMS people will go a long way to drum up a bit of cash.

Take Weymouth schoolgirls Charlie Scott and Emma Davey for example, who are volunteering to spend 24 hours in police cells on the first day of the summer holiday.

The 15-year-olds are being locked up for the 'sponsored incarceration' to support their school trip to India.

Year 10 Wey Valley School students Charlie and Emma will be among the young people travelling to Calcutta at the end of the year to work on a project with street children.

The group are busy raising money to fund the cost of the trip plus they also want to donate at least £2,000 to the Don Bosco Ashalayam project.

The trip will make a difference to poverty-stricken children's lives but it is also sure to be an eye-opening experience for the young people from Weymouth who will learn important skills and gain an insight into another culture.

Charlie and Emma thought about the wackiest stunt they could do in order to raise money and decided to find out if it was possible if they could be taken into custody for a night - without getting a criminal record.

They managed to get the OK for next Monday after discussing their plan with one of the adult helpers on the trip, Tony Smith, who also happens to be a police sergeant in Weymouth and Portland's Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Emma said: "We thought it's a bit of a different way to raise money so we asked Tony if it was possible.

"It's going to be strange in the cell but we're looking forward to it. We hope we can raise lots of money."

The girls will be denied luxuries during their stay and will eat the same meals as their fellow prisoners.

Sgt Smith joked: "The only difference is that they will emerge from their detention without a conviction. Their good character will remain intact."

If you would like to sponsor the girls contact 01305 815464.