A RED-FACED radio station has had to reinstate one of its presenters sacked in a Big Brother-style publicity stunt.

York-based Minster FM sacked its breakfast show presenter after a "Big Brother" style ballot.

Staff were asked by managers to vote for their "least favourite" colleague in a secret ballot, according to a press release from the station's headquarters at Dunnington.

They then told James Watt he had been fired.

But the station's management today backtracked, claiming they had made a mistake. Minster was inundated with phone calls from listeners about the stunt.

A spokesman for the commercial station said: "It was a bit of fun that got out of hand. A mistake has been made.

"We do value James as a presenter and he is being reinstated next week after being given a few days off.

"It all started as a bit of fun, but James was very upset by it."

Shocked colleagues said James, who had been working at the station for about seven months on a freelance basis, was called out of his show yesterday and told the news.

He left work immediately, with show producer Julie Cummings completing the broadcast alone. She told the Evening Press at the time: "All I am allowed to tell you is that I am sad and disappointed."

The station's press officer Sarah Pudney said: "The concept started off as a joke after the boss heard a few of the staff chatting about the Channel Four show Big Brother and who they would like to kick out if they had the chance.

"However, it took a more serious turn when staff in the building were told that "radio is a tough industry and no-one is indispensable."

The spokesman said: "That's the nature of radio. It all sounds jolly but it is a cut-throat business when people are working on quite short-term contracts.

"We shall be welcoming James back on the Breakfast Show next Tuesday and he will find a pleasant surprise waiting for him."

Big Brother fever has gripped the nation over the past five weeks as millions of fans of the surveillance drama have watched the demise of Nick and the ten players' every move.

Now down to six housemates, such is public demand for the hit Channel 4 TV show that programmes are being extended.

A Big Brother spokeswoman said: "At the end of the day, Big Brother is just a TV programme but this is messing up somebody's life in a spectacular way."