MOST of them have never hammered a nail, mixed cement, or painted a wall in their lives.

But a 14-strong group of York-based Norwich Union office workers were so inspired by the plight of poverty-stricken families in Romania that they will attempt to build them a new house in less than a week.

The team have signed up to the Habitat For Humanity charity's Blitz Build project, organised by Norwich Union's parent company Aviva, which gives people a new start in some of the poorest areas in the world.

They need to raise £15,000 as a group in order to start the challenge in the Romanian town of Cluj, in September.

Vikkie Dodds, 24, of Selby, inspired her fellow workers to get involved in the project after helping out last year and seeing the poverty first-hand.

She helped build a house for a young family and was overcome with emotion after presenting them with the front door keys at the end of the week.

"It's an amazing experience," Vikkie said.

"There were about 100 of us doing the work and we all just chipped in mixing cement, hammering nails and filling in holes. The poverty is horrendous and there was a not a dry eye in the house when we handed over the keys to the family. It's hard to explain what a difference we make by going out there."

Ryan Holroyd, of Colliergate, York, has also signed up for the project despite never doing any manual work in his life.

"It will be a massive challenge but I'm up for it," he said.

"I want to help people who are less fortunate than me."

Vikke said they had planned a number of fundraising events including a "battle of the bands" competition, fashion show, bingo and a sponsored walk from Selby to York.

More than 150,000 Romanian families live in poverty housing in rooms smaller than a standard sized bathroom.

Many live on an income often less than £130 per month with petrol, groceries and other living costs higher than in the US Anyone wishing to sponsor the team can log on to their fundraising website at www.myspace.com/ blitzbuild07