A LOCAL councillor has made a plea for Hereford Jailbreak to 'comeback' as soon as possible, writes LIZ WATKINS.

Councillor Alan Williams, who has taken part in the event three times, said it will be sorely missed next year.

Organisers Ron Davies and Grenville Smith are putting Jailbreak, which has raised well over £1 million for charity, on hold for the moment and will make a decision about its future later.

"But I hope it will return in time for the year 2002 when I expect to be Mayor of Hereford. I will give it my full support,'' said Mr Williams, who represents Hagley on Herefordshire Council and Aylestone on Hereford Parish Council.

Councillor Williams's team, Fast Food 4 DOT COM, arrived back first in last week's Jailbreak but were placed second because they failed to solve an anagram.

The answer was Ten Years on the Run, which was emblazoned on the front of their Jailbreak T-shirts.

In the team with Mr Williams, well known in the city as Mr Chips from Commercial Road, were Graham Anstee, Emma Bedwell and Jemma Brett.

They arrived back in Hereford tightly packed into an Austin Seven after receiving six lifts in their trip back from London.

One of the most interesting was the one from Jason Farrell, on his way home after reading the news on the LBC 24 hours news service.

Between them, Fast Food 4 DOT COM raised £1,200 for the cause.

The 11th Jailbreak has so far banked £115,000. "And we are still counting,'' said Grenville Smith.

The wooden spoon prize for the event went to four off-duty police officers.

They volunteered to drive four teams of video-makers as they recorded the whole event.

When they arrived at the Dominion Theatre in London where the 550 competitors 'broke out' they parked their cars in a quiet street, nearby.

When they returned each car had an £80 fixed penalty ticket issued by the local council.

"What made it worse was the fact they were outside a multi-storey car park," said Grenville.

If paid within a fortnight the penalty is halved. Jailbreak has sent off the cheque, 'begging for mercy' in the name of charity.