大象传媒

It's got to be the ultimate driving adventure, as 大象传媒 Children in Need offers someone the chance to bid for the opportunity to sit at the controls of one of the biggest cranes in the world - the huge 300-foot high Samson crane at Harland & Wolff in Belfast.

The world famous crane overlooks the longest dry dock in the world.

Sitting in a tiny glass capsule, one lucky bidder will get to press the buttons and pull levers that operate Samson and lift up loads.

This unique opportunity to drive Samson is on offer, thanks to Harland & Wolff, for 大象传媒 Children in Need. No member of the public has ever been allowed to be at the controls of the crane before, so this is truly a once in a lifetime offer to the highest bidder.

"You'll need to be agile and fit," explains 大象传媒 Northern Ireland correspondent Mike McKimm.

Mike has been filming on Samson for the 大象传媒 Children in Need event and added: "You have to scramble up a series of steep steel stairs, climb up and down vertical ladders, get in and out of tiny lifts and then sit in the control capsule hanging out in space some 300 feet off the ground. And when the crane is working the whole thing gently shakes and trembles! So you'll need a steady nerve and a seriously good head for heights."

To bid for a chance to drive Samson, you need to tune in to Hugo Duncan's Country Afternoon programme on 大象传媒 Radio Ulster this week from 1.30pm-3pm.

Bidders can call 08459 555 678 (for those calling from outside the United Kingdom call:听 00 44 2890 555 678.)

Bids will be accepted on the programme until the auction hammer on this item comes down on Thursday (November 13) at 2.45pm at which stage the winner will be announced.

Viewers can find out more about this unique experience by watching a special report on tonight's (Monday, November 10) 大象传媒 Newsline on 大象传媒 One Northern Ireland at 6.30pm.

This year's 大象传媒 Children in Need is on Friday (November 14) live from the King's Hall, Belfast on 大象传媒 One Northern Ireland from 7pm, presented by Stephen Nolan and Zoe Salmon.

Last year on the night, locally 大象传媒 Children in Need raised 拢606,399 from pledges and donations, part of the UK total of 拢19,089,771 which grew to a final total of over 拢37m.

In Northern Ireland this year, a total of 拢3.2m in grants were distributed to 284 groups/organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people.

Visit bbc.co.uk/northernireland/pudsey for more information on this year's 大象传媒 Children in Need Appeal and how you can help or call for a fundraising pack on 0345 607 33 33.

To make a donation to 大象传媒 Children in Need from Northern Ireland call: 0345 7 33 22 33. For donations from the Republic of Ireland call: 0845 607 3605.