THREE colleagues who are being locked up for nine hours in a police cell tomorrow are delighted to have secured more than £200 sponsorship for their efforts.

Burnley's Asda store events co-ordinator Gillian Lingard will be going behind bars along with colleagues Fiona Burns and Lia Leone to raise money for the NCH Action for Children's charity Know More to stamp out bullying.

Already Dixon's car showroom has agreed to back the colleagues with £100, and £50 has been pledged by the Fireplace Warehouse.

All three are mums and their own children have been the victims of bullying and intimidation.

Gillian said: "I wanted the police to collect us from the store by police car but they couldn't do that so we will have to make our own way to the station.

"When we get there we will be read our rights and then be locked up in a cell until 5pm. Our children think it is great and my daughter Chantelle wants to come with me.

"We will be treated like prisoners and have our jewellery removed and if we want to go to the loo we will have to ring a bell and they will release us, but they have asked if we can all go together to save them too many trips.

"We held an anti-bullying week in the store and we raised just short of £500 but we want to do even better than that. We hope by getting sponsored to be locked up we will be able to increase that total to well over £1,000."

She said the money would be used by the charity to set up anti-bullying workshops in schools so children have people they can turn to and counsellors will be on hand to deal with problems.

Fiona, 36, from Cliviger has two children, and Lia, 36, from Burnley, has three children. They both work as active sellers or should that be 'cell'ers.

Lia said: "We are hoping that by giving children the support they need to stop bullies."

The trio have been going around local businesses drumming up support and anyone who wants to back their sponsorship effort can contact Gillian on 01282 450033.