Pledges adding up for inmates

Friends and supporters of nine well-known volunteers who have agreed to be locked up in the cells in the old Newark Police Station on Sunday have started to pledge donations.

The volunteers will be arrested at lunchtime on Sunday as part of the Newark Christmas Lights switch-on.

They will be held until enough bail money is pledged to secure their freedom.

They each have their own just- giving website and text number where donations can be promised.

Money raised will go to the Newark and Sherwood Children’s Charities Group. The Prison Break is their first major event.

The group has been formed by Counselling and Support for Young People (CASY), Think Children, Home-Start Newark and Newark and Notts Child Bereavement and Loss Centre, known as Sue’s Place.

They plan to organise four major fundraising events in the town each year.

The volunteers include Mr Paul Cotter, the owner of London Eye Bespoke Eyewear. He is a former chairman of Newark Round Table, which has agreed to match and then double anything he raises.

Newark Castle Rotary Club will open their Santa’s Grotto in the Buttermarket from noon until 4pm at the lights switch-on.

The grotto will then be open every Saturday in the run-up to Christmas from 10am until 3pm.

The lights will be switched on at 4.45pm after a day of music and festive fun.