NOT many young girls would voluntarily choose to spend the night in police headquarters.

But about 70 Brownies from across Worcestershire visited West Mercia Police headquarters at Hindlip Hall, near Worcester, over a weekend to celebrate 100 years of the Guiding movement.

The girls took over the staff canteen and sports hall for a variety of games, music and crafts before settling down for the night in sleeping bags in the sports hall.

It was an opportunity for the girls to meet police officers, and they were introduced to local policing teams and officers from the Central Motorway Police Group, who showed them a number of vehicles including the newest addition to their fleet – new Jaguar XF diesel response cars.

Community support officers also handed out cop cards to the girls, who turned out to be avid collectors.

Detective Sergeant Mel Paley, whose daughter is a Brownie and who organised the sleepover, said: “The event has been a huge success.

“The Brownies have experienced some interesting aspects of life at police HQ, including visiting the call management centre to see where 999 calls are received.

“The sleepover was a fantastic opportunity to forge closer links between our younger community members and West Mercia Police and for the girls to learn some important safety messages.”

Brownie leader Gill Bevan, of 1st Abberley and Witley, who also organised the event, said: “We would like to thank West Mercia Police for hosting the sleepover. We have all had a wonderful time celebrating 100 years of Guiding.

“They all had great fun but I have to say there wasn’t much actual sleeping done.”

As part of their 100th-year celebrations, the Brownies have several activities planned, including a climb of the clock tower in Abberley and a camp in Wales.