The great and the good of Colchester were locked up for the night in the town's oldest jail.
As the heavy vault doors slammed shut on mayor Nigel Chapman and other community figures, they had to remind themselves it was all for charity.
Cheque out - hospital consutant Nigel Brayley tries to buy his way out of jail with Evening Gazette editor Irene Kettle, Philip Morant headteacher Russell Moon and Mercury Theatre chief executive Dee Evans looking on.
The Colchester Castle event on Friday night, organised by charity Headway Essex, began innocently enough.
A monk led Evening Gazette editor Irene Kettle, Russell Moon, headteacher of Philip Morant School, Colchester, Chamber of Commerce chairman David Crozier and 20 other "guests" through the town streets on a ghastly ghost tour.
But after being arrested by the Town Watch, the group were thrown into the vaults of Colchester Castle for a night - unless they bought their way out at midnight.
Historic tales of witches and other spooks, a steak and kidney pie dinner and a tour of the underground caverns kept the spirits at bay.
Mr Chapman said it was a great success, raising thousands for his five designated charities, Headway, Essex Wildlife Trust, Colne Valley Youth Orchestra, the Army Benevolent Fund and Sergeant Cancer Care for Children.
Published Monday November 4, 2002
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