RUTH Harrison and Jenny Ryan enjoyed a taste of freedom at the weekend after spending five days living in glass boxes.

The Horwich pair left their separate boxes in Manchester's Arndale centre on Saturday, having been armed only with telephones and phone directories to kit out their new "homes."

Their challenge was to call businesses and shops across the borough in a bid to fill their two-and-a-half-square-metre boxes as part of a contest run by Century FM radio station and BT.

Each cell had a small "en suite" chemical toilet and hand-pump wash basin, but was otherwise empty when the girls moved in.

So they set about filling them with homely possessions - as thousands of bemused shoppers looked on.

Armed with £1,500 each from sponsors BT and Century FM, their task was to amass everything a girl could want, including, bins and a karaoke machine.

They were also set challenges from callers to the radio station to persuade companies to part with goods for charities and community groups.

Most of the goods will be donated to children's charity 21st Century Kids, with the girls keeping a few goodies for themselves.

Among Jenny's haul was a leather suite, a clown's outfit and stationery, books and reconditioned computer equipment for Bolton's Dyslexia Institute.

Ruth managed signed Manchester United and Manchester City shirts and sports equipment, including netballs and footballs for schools from Bolton Arena.

And at meal times, they rang for takeaway meals from Subway sandwich shop and Wagamama's noodle bar.

Jenny, a 22-year-old university graduate and keen performer, kept shoppers entertained with a public address system and a karaoke machine.

Ruth preferred to settle down in the evenings with a DVD for company.

The 24-year-old flight saleswoman, of Ridgemont Drive, said it had been an "extremely enjoyable but strange experience".

She said: "Being in there at night was odd, as there was lots of noise from workmen, and the lights were all still on.

"And being on the phone all day left me with a headache most days - it's harder work than it looks.

"People from Bolton came down to knock on the windows and say hello - the support has been lovely."

Jenny, of Bottom o'th' Moor, said: "I've enjoyed it so much. These charities need a lot of help, so it's nice to be able to do something - even if it was just a lot of talking.

"I even ended up forgetting about all the people watching and got used to it."

Shoppers were encouraged to email or send text messages to vote for the pair, and Ruth was the eventual winner as she secured most of her goods for free, spending just £600 of her budget. She picked an expensive pair of sunglasses from her haul of goods.

Jenny walked away with a trip for two to Goa which she negotiated from a travel agent.