IT is a stunt which echoes that of US illusionist David Blaine's 44 days spent in a box suspended above the River Thames.

Now two brave contestants are swapping the privacy of their homes to live life in the public gaze inside a see-through box.

But Lee Jackson and Lois Perrin's five-day "ordeal" is not for personal glory - their efforts will support the work of a children's charity.

The pair will go into battle against each other armed only with a phone, a BT phone book and a budget of £1,500 when they enter the two and a half square metre Perspex box in Southampton's WestQuay shopping centre tomorrow.

Their aim is to negotiate the most free goods and services for themselves and for local causes. The catch is that they can only call the numbers listed in the business and classified pages of the new BT phone book.

Lee, 30, is looking forward to the challenge.

He said: "I'm going to start by buying a double bed because I've just moved and I want to kit out my new place, so I also want a giant television, a DVD player and a new hi-fi."

Lois, 19, is also excited .

She said: "I've checked the dimensions and I want to get a smart car in the box."

The pair are determined to beat each other but say they're both just out to have fun and get as much as they can for charity.

The winner gets to keep the leftover cash and everything they buy.

Whoever loses will leave with a free hotel spa night but anything they buy will go to the Help a Local Child charity.

They were selected from hundreds of hopefuls listeners to 103.2 Power FM.

Listeners can follow the challenge live on the airwaves and also suggest daily tasks before voting for the winner.

There will be separate living areas so they can't communicate with or see each other, with individual phone boxes and a toilet and washroom.

No cooking is allowed, so they will have to order what food and drink they need to last until Saturday.

"I'm going to need a running machine to burn off all the takeaways," said Lois.

"But I'll only use it at night, there's no way I'm letting people watch me run on it during the day."

Lee added: "I'll keep myself going by getting a football for some keepy-uppy."

The challenge follows Power FM's Human Zoo competition at Whiteley when contestants lived in a see-through chamber in the village's shopping centre.

PROFILES:

Name: Lee Jackson

Lives: Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth

Age: 30

Occupation: Owns a car-valeting company in St Mary's, Southampton

Aims for Living by the Book: double bed, a giant television, a DVD player and a new hi-fi

Name: Lois Perrin

Lives: Bassett, Southampton

Age: 19

Occupation: Business management at Southampton University

Aims for Living by the Book: smart car