IT'S a hard way to try and raise cash for charity.

After being charged with having a warped sense of humour and of trying to raise money for Centrepoint, a charity for the homeless, Peter Baylis was searched, given some bedding and locked into cell 10 at Bexleyheath police station.

Peter, vice chairman of the borough's Neighbourhood Watch and a member of the police/community consultative group, got permission to spend three days in the cells for his fundraising stunt.

Sleep was difficult, food was tasty but meagre and the tea was disgusting, he says.

He spent much of his time counting the tiles on the cell walls but says he cannot reveal how many there are because it is covered by the Official Secrets Act.

During his stay, one officer gave him a bag of loose change to count it came to £11.91 which she donated, and a solicitor from Thomas Boyd-White's visiting a fellow prisoner, left £20.

He was woken every hour by a cell check, offered counselling for his "drug problem" and rationed himself to small amounts of his book to make it last.

Peter hopes to raise £1,000 for Centrepoint. If you would like to donate, call 0800 232320 quoting challenge 1004.

December 19, 2001 16:30