PEOPLE in glass houses should not throw stones, and Mark Daniels had no intention of doing that last night.

He was spending the night in a specially-designed loft apartment filled with furniture made from glass.

The apartment has been created at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland for an exhibition marking the start of National Architecture Week.

Mr Daniels, who helped set up the exhibition, said: "I decided to move in for a night. It's a beautiful but challenging environment, and promises to be an unforgettable experience, not only for me, but for visitors to the centre.

"The gallery has only shown studio glass before, so showcasing cutting edge design makes for a real change in direction.''

North-East furniture seller Barker and Stonehouse found many of the items for the exhibition.

Andrew Durham, head of its design team, said: "Fabulous exhibits include a Ghost glass armchair which is created out of a single cut and moulded sheet of glass, a spectacular glass table by Sir Norman Foster, and pieces in crystal and silver by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany and Co."

The apartment also features a transparent plastic bed with blow-up clear cushions and a sofa from the same collection as those in television's Big Brother house.

The exhibition runs from today to Monday, September 3. It is open daily from 10am to 5pm and admission is free.