To promote sales of Spectus' easy-to-fabricate Elite 70 system and to mark 10 years in business, the Trade Plastics Centre (TPC), Stroud recently staged a charity open day at its Cheltenham store.

Part of the event involved the staged kidnap of customer 17 year-old Ashley Kirby of C&R Decorators, Cheltenham. Held ‘against his will' by two local models, Ashley's release was negotiated by his boss live on local radio station, Star FM.

The £50 ransom payment was donated to the Meningitis Trust along with £200 raised by the open day.