FIVE days living in a Perspex box helped Heidi Rogers give up smoking -- and earned her £2,000 in the process!

Armed only with a phone, a phone book and the gift of gentle persuasion, the 28-year-old, of Pickup Street, Clayton-le-Moors, met daily challenges set in Century FM's Living by the Book contest.

She cajoled companies to bring everything from food and clothes, to beds and a fruit machine to her box, in the middle of a Manchester shopping centre.

And when she finally stepped out at the weekend, radio listeners voted her the winner of the competition.

She was competing against Andrew Harris, from Colwyn Bay - who was in his own box just feet away -- but she said the two of them kept each other going.

Heidi, who works as a part-time sales assistant at the Plumbe Centre, King Street, Blackburn, said: "We just had a laugh and a joke. On the last night we were up until 3am playing on toy guitars we got from Asda.

"To be honest I didn't think I would win because I had the impression that Andrew came across as more of a funny guy on air.

"When they said my name I just jumped up in the air -- it was fantastic."

Heidi was also facing the challenge of cutting out the 20 cigarettes she smoked a day. She has now given up.

But she had some help from a lady called Jan who works for the stopping smoking service at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

She said: "I went to see her for some advice before I went in and she came to visit me in my box to give me support. She was brilliant.

"The most difficult challenge for me was getting equipment for an under 14s football team. I had to get 16 footballs, 16 bibs, 16 drinks canisters, I also managed to get them some dribbling cones.

"But it was worth it because the coach of the team came down to see me and he was nearly crying."

Heidi said Friday had been the toughest day for her.

She said: "I had that many knock backs from people, big companies as well, who thought I was winding them up. I was being watched all day, every day, and I was tired because the lights are always on in the Arndale and there were workmen at night, so you don't get much sleep."

Heidi is donating half her prize money to charity -- £500 to a breast cancer charity and £500 to 21st Century Kids -- and plans to spend the rest on her family and friends.

And having got a taste of being cooped up for long periods of time, what will she do next?

"It has inspired me," she said. "I think I'm going to apply for the next series of Big Brother."