POP Group Atomic Kitten were visiting the North-East yesterday to help a radio station's charity auction.

TFM and Magic radio stations were holding the live phone-in event to raise money for their Make A Child Smile charity, which helps local children.

The Northern Echo helped raise cash when it donated the chance to be a sports reporter for a day.

The bidding started at £106, and Colleen Rushforth clinched the deal at £120, for her daughter to work at the paper for the day.

Other prizes up for grabs were an all-inclusive Caribbean holiday, Geri Halliwell's sofa, to be Mayor of Stockton for a day, and the chance to lock up your mother-in-law for a few hours in Billingham Police Station.

Tickets for concerts and football matches were also available, including Middlesbrough's fixture against Leeds, and Darlington and Hartlepool matches.