PLAYING escaped prisoners as part of a charity fund-raiser has proved so popular that there are only spaces left for five more teams.

Jail Break 2007 gives people the chance to play ex-cons. Organiser Phil Smith has already signed up 55 teams - far more than he anticipated.

Mr Smith has originally planned for far fewer participating teams but has had to expand the event to cope with the demand for places.

The fund-raiser, which was originally held in Hereford, will take place in Worcester on Sunday, July 15. Teams are taken by coach to a secret location and have to find their way back to Worcester Racecourse by whatever means they can with no money in a test of teamwork and ingenuity.

The location is kept entirely secret to stop teams planning ahead. They could be taken to places as far as Liverpool or London. They have to get home in the quickest possible time. When the escaped cons arrive back at Worcester Racecourse they can expect a spectacular welcome with a fun fair, dancing, live music and entertainers.

The money raised through sponsorship will be split between three good causes with the main beneficiary being Hereford Macmillan Can-cer Appeal. The County Air Ambulance and Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue will also receive donations.

The fund-raiser is being revived after a seven year break by Mr Smith, aged 52, from Queen Elizabeth Road, Malvern, in memory of a friend, Christopher Gibbs, also of Malvern, who died in April last year. It was first held in 1990 and was the creation of two Herefordshire police officers, Ron Da-vies and Grenville Smith, known affectionately as The Governors.

Mr Smith said: "Chris-topher was a friend and a team mate and shortly before he died he said he would love to do another Jail Break. I would also love to do one again - if someone else comes forward to organise it."

All teams have to pay £60 to enter to cover the cost of coaches and T-shirts. Each team has to raise a minimum of £500 sponsorship. For more details e-mail jail break2007@aol.com