Staff at Barnardo's are running their own version of the hit TV series Big Brother to raise cash during the charity's fun'raising fortnight.

The design team at the children's charity will emerge today after spending 33 hours incarcerated in a room together.

Ten contestants, six male and four female, were yesterday locked in 'The Room'. As well as enduring each other's company through the night, they also got the chance to evict each other - making for some interesting working relationships in the future...

Barnardo's 500 other members of staff have been able to watch proceedings and vote on the intranet (the charity's private internet network) as to who gets the chop, and who is the ultimate winner - paying 20p a time for the privilege.

Each of the players has been obliged to perform tasks throughout their incarceration. Barnardo's staff and the teams' suppliers in the print industry have pledged to sponsor the players and there's no shortage of bets as to who will crack first, or take on the 'Nasty Nick' mantle.

"It's our contribution to Fun'raising Fortnight " says Barnardo's photographer and organiser of The Room 'nasty' Paul Carr. "Suppliers have been great at rallying round but this will certainly teach us a lot about our strong office friendships."