15309/3POLICE finally caught up with 10 wanted felons in Trowbridge as a selection of the town's supposedly great and good were led away in handcuffs on Wednesday.

Trowbridge mayor Grace Hill, town council clerk Doug Ross and Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce deputy president Robert Quartley were all apprehended by town officers in Operation Cleanup.

A jail and bail day in aid of the Royal United Hospital's Forever Friends Appeal, helped net thousands of pounds as each wanted criminal raised £500 bail money.

Big Ted, the appeal's mascot, pinpointed Trowbridge as a hotbed of petty crime.

Cllr Hill was nicked for not sending her children to school, while Mr Ross admitted being in possession of an offensive weapon namely his Scottish Skean Dhu dagger.

Mr Quartley was accused of playing too much golf, while Asda's Brian Booker confessed to being devilishly handsome in a built up area.

Tracey Parker, of Leykers was apprehended for serving the best coffee in town, and Linda Mann, of Barclays, stood accused of defacing the Queen's image on bank notes.

All 10 suspects were held in Trowbridge Civic Hall until their bail money was raised.

Kirsty Bowron, event officer for the Forever Friends Appeal, said: "We're extremely grateful to all those involved for being game for a laugh for a great cause. We would like to thank them for being such great 'criminals' and anyone who supported them by helping to raise their bail money."