Big Brother contestant Jade Goody has been getting a helping hand through the classified section of The Argus.

An advertisement appeared in yesterday's paper for what seemed to be a bargain offer for a TV and DVD player.

But when readers called the number on the ad they were put through to the voting line for the Channel 4 show and told they had voted for Jade to win.

Patcham resident Allen Bostock, 65, was one reader who called about the offer.

He said: "It looked like such a bargain so I called the number. I should have known it was too good to be true.

"And the worst thing is that I would never vote for Jade."

Mr Bostock added: "Imagine the power this ad could do if it has gone in newspapers all over the country."

The advert reads: Widescreen 32" TV + DV player. £150 ono. Leaving England. Tel 0901 1154409.

A Big Brother spokeswoman said: "We do see this kind of thing quite a lot but it is usually in the form of email scams. We can't stop it happening.

"But we have up to three million votes per week so this advert will not make much difference. It is unusual to have something like this in print."

Big Brother staff are today busy with the run-up to the live final on Channel 4 tonight.

Steve Lowdell, a reader from Sayers Common, said his neighbour called the number for the advert, which is charged at a premium rate.

Mr Lowdell, 34, said: "I think it is very wrong and a very misleading advert. I am especially angry as my wife and I support Kate."