Three students from the University of Bristol managed to travel 3,330 miles to Lanzarote and back for free in an annual "Jailbreak" charity event.

Laura Baker, Danielle Baker-Wilson and Heidi Trivasse, all 18, used their powers of persuasion to travel on trains, buses and planes to the Canary Islands to raise money for Ronald McDonald House in Bristol.

Laura, who is studying medicine, said: "We started from Bristol and travelled to Manchester Airport via train – the lovely train conductor even gave us his mobile so we could call him if we needed help on the return journey."

From Manchester, the girls waited overnight to board the next plane to Lanzarote, courtesy of Thomas Cook. On arrival at the island, and through more sweet-talking, the girls were offered a free bus ride to the south of the island and a free hotel room for the night.

Laura said: "We had the option to go to Malaga and there were more return flights available from Spain but we wanted to win so went for the furthest destination.

"We found out there was another team on the island so after hearing this we needed to get as far across the island as possible."

They secured three seats on a flight back to East Midlands Airport and eventually caught a train to Bristol. They raised over £600 for the charity.