THREE teams from the emergency services ‘escaped’ the Isle of Wight, with the aim of travelling as far as possible in 50 hours without spending money.

Teams from police, ambulance and fire service competed in the Bluelight Breakout challenge, raising money for brain tumour charity The Wight Brainy Bunch.

The teams consisted of two off-duty personnel from each service, all of who gave their time freely to take part in the challenge to support Island firefighter Mark Grimes, who founded the charity with his wife, Kathryn, after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015.

The teams left Newport at 10am on Thursday, via their escape vehicles, with Team Fire duo Mark and Ross Smallcombe finally crowned winners at midday on Saturday — having travelled an extraordinary 1,760 miles to Tenerife.

There were emotional scenes at the conclusion of the challenge, with the victorious team finishing in the restaurant where Mark endured his first seizure in 2014, having been diverted from their original route due to bad weather in Spain — conditions which scuppered prospective treks towards Gibraltar and Morocco.

Tom Ramsey and Iain Lane of Team Police finished second, clocking up an impressive 1,464 miles, which took them to Greece, close to the Turkish border.

Team Ambulance pair, Lynsey Groves and Alasdair Hay, made it to the Greek Island of Thassos, having found themselves on the same plane as Team Police on their departure from Gatwick, although their final destination was Kavala in Northern Greece, just shy of 1,400 miles from their starting point.

The event is estimated to have raised in the region of £5,000, and was supported by Novum Law, Maher Ross and DDC Electronics, along with many other Island businesses, whose sponsorship ensured the teams could return home following their two-day challenge.

The Wight Brainy Bunch is a small charity which provides emotional support and financial assistance to Isle of Wight families affected by brain tumours.

For more information visit www.thewightbrainybunch.org.uk

People are able to donate £5 directly to the cause by texting FIREIOW, POLICEIOW or AMBIOW to 70085.