A group of Bristol University students managed to travel from Clifton to near the Italian border in only 36 hours without any money.

A total of 26 students were ‘released’ on November 12 from the Students’ Union on one of the RAG committee’s most popular events - Jailbreak.

Each of the 12 teams tried to get as far away from Bristol as possible in a day and a half without spending a penny on transport.

This year’s winners - Sarah Worthing, Lauren Heming and Heather Weir - reached Orange in the Alps, 612 miles from Bristol.

This involved them begging for more than 30 vehicle rides and securing an overnight ride in the back of a meat lorry.

Huda Gamil, RAG Chair, said they screamed with joy when they learned they had won the event.

Sarah Worthing, currently studying for a BSc in Deaf Studies, said: "We're so happy, we might even supersize our Macdonald's meals to celebrate!"

Miss Gamil said: “Special mention goes to Jonny Clissold and Ruth Witherspoon who spent the night wandering the red light district in Amsterdam.

“Their free flight from Gatwick was kindly donated by a BMI employee, who offered them his ‘family and friends’ discount for the whole year which left them just £5 to pay. Luckily the couple behind our Jailbreakers offered to pay the rest!”

She said other Jailbreakers reached Brussels and Calais with the shortest distance travelled being just 56 miles to Swansea.

Miss Gamil said a great time was had by all and more than £2,000 has been raised so far for local Bristol charities.