PROPS such as plastic dog bowls and fake dog biscuits for this year's Big Brother TV show were provided by a North-East company.

Channel 4's Big Brother turned to a South Tyneside Internet shopping firm to help kit out its famous reality show house.

Big Brother contacted retail web specialists www. go1better.co.uk, based in West Boldon, to buy props for the sixth series, which draws to a close tonight.

Bosses at the company had to remain tight-lipped until now about their high-profile customer as they were bound by a strict confidentiality contract.

The gifts website provided props for use in the show's weekly tasks. One prop was a head torch used during a task where the contestants had to see who could last longest living in a box.

The other prop was a set of clear plastic dog bowls, complete with inset fake dog biscuits, which were used as part of a human dog challenge in the show.

One contestant had to pretend to be a dog while the other acted as the trainer.

The retail website is part of the new digital arm of Amicus Outsourcing, Amicus Digital, which recently launched with the creation of 20 new jobs.

Andrew Martin, business manager with ww.go1better. co.uk, said: "It was certainly a surprise to get the call from Big Brother and we were glad to help out with some of our quirkier products."

Amicus Outsourcing opened as a contact centre in 2003 from Jarrow, handling calls and queries on behalf of clients including utility companies, catalogue firms and financial companies.