A Midlands journalist who last year underwent a double lung transplant is to take part in an eco-version of Big Brother.

The seventh series of the real reality TV show begins on Channel Four tonight, but later this month Mark Allen will go into a miniature 'BB house', as part of a local contest in Cannock.

The five-day competition, entitled The Green Dream, will see Mark, (34), and four fellow housemates - or 'bandmates' - living in the town centre in a bandstand transformed into a house with glass walls.

During their stay they will have to complete a series of green challenges to win organic food, and one bandmate will be voted out every 24 hours.

The aim of the event is to promote recycling and green issues, and is the brainchild of district town centres manager Bob Flack and operations manager Michelle Harper.

Mark, who was born with cystic fibrosis and underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after being struck down by pneumonia, said: "Six months ago I wouldn't have been able to do this, so at the moment I'm grabbing every opportunity I can.

"It's going to be fun living in a big greenhouse and will be good publicity for environmental issues and the transplant organ donor register."

Many of the details of the contest - which begins on May 29 - are being kept under wraps, but Mark has been told that basic rations of rice and porridge will be provided, with luxuries having to be earnt, and his entire stay will be broadcast on the Internet via a webcam.

He is also allowed to take one luxury item in with him, but this is causing him some concern.

He said: "We are allowed one luxury item but there are so many things banned, like anything electrical, anything battery operated, anything musical, that this is my biggest dilemma. I'm thinking about taking in organic honey for the porridge."

Mark's fellow contestants include a model, a former RAF sergeant and an 18-year-old shop assistant, and Mark is looking forward to meeting them and beginning the adventure.

He said: "I hope it's going to be a lot of fun.

"There will be no room to hide, but as long as they don't put Pete Burns or George Galloway in there I should be okay!"

Before his transplant Mark had worked for the Staffordshire Newsletter, the weekly Chronicle in Cannock and the Express & Star in Stafford.

He is currently freelancing and has just been given the all-clear to go back to work full-time.

When he became ill he could walk no more than a few feet and had to be attached to oxygen 24 hours a day, but during his stay in the bandstand Mark will just need to continue taking his tablets.

He said: "I've been going to the gym and cycling so I will probably be fitter than some of the others in there."