AN innocent man has been locked up in a cell for the day - but it's all for a good cause.

Stephen Clark had never been in a police station in his life, but he found himself behind bars for more than seven hours with nothing more than a cup of tea to keep him going.

The 37-year-old npower worker was inspired to take on the challenge following the death of his mother from cancer and after a friend became ill. He hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for the Macmillan Nurses Appeal.

He appealed to Cleveland Police to be locked up as a way of raising funds and senior officers granted his wish.

Yesterday, he arrived at Billingham Police Station before being processed like any other prisoner and was confined to a cell.

The ordeal should see him collect about £300 from friends and family, a sum which will be matched by his Thornaby employer.

"I didn't really know what to expect. I'd never been arrested before," he said. "In fact I'd never been inside a police station. A kindly sergeant gave me the odd cup of tea but I didn't get any visits, not even from my wife Lynn. She thought it was a good cause, but she was at work."

Mr Clark, from Coxhoe, County Durham, said: "I was told they were going to arrest me and they treat me like any other prisoner for the day and really, I quite enjoyed it."

Sergeant Terry Wood, who looked after Mr Clark, said: "We were only too pleased to help. He had to prepare himself for a "gruelling" time because that's all he got to eat while in custody.

"And when we finished duty for the day we were pleased we didn't forget about him - or he would have been in his cell longer than he bargained for."