A COUPLE of colourful cons caused a stir in Greenock as they embarked on a break for freedom — but it was all for a good cause.

Dodgy duo Shannon McKay and Thomas Livingstone went on the run yesterday for cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

The handcuffed pair, who work at Tail O’ The Bank restaurant, owned by the Hungry Horse chain, had their escape route all planned and even managed to elude the long arm of the law in the form of Constable Lynda Quigley.

Their mission was to visit as many Hungry Horse eateries across Scotland as possible without spending any money.

Shannon, 22, a restaurant supervisor, said: “Hungry Horse runs ‘Macmillan May’ and last year we raised £100,000 across Scotland and England.

“And this year every pub has a £500 target.”

The fun-loving workmates said they were looking forward to the challenge, which could take them as far afield as East Kilbride and Coatbridge to Livingston and Newton Mearns.

They planned on hitching lifts and blagging train and bus rides while rattling collection cans.

Shannon said: “I’m looking forward to raising a lot of money.

It’s an awesome cause — we’ve raised £200 already.

“I think we’re going to get some funny looks. I don’t think they’ll miss us in these outfits! It will be good fun.”

A pub customer and local businessman tipped the Tele off about the ‘jailbreak’ and offered to give the duo a helping hand by giving them a lift to Clydebank to get them started.

David Coyle, who runs DMC Landscapes, said: “I’ve been self-employed since 1986 and I believe in giving something back. I wanted to help them out because it was for charity.”