THE roles were reversed in a city centre pub yesterday as a York store manager became a slave for a day, after being auctioned off for charity.

The slave auction took place at Marks & Spencer on Monday, when shop-floor colleagues were given the opportunity to bid for an hour of their bosses' time.

One unlucky victim was Gordon D'Andilly, 35, who has been the customer services manager at Marks & Spencer's Coppergate store for the past eight months.

The money from the bids goes to the Rainbow of Hope and I Can charities which are M&S's Golden Jubilee charity initiatives.

Gordon's task was to try his hand at being a barman and waiter, at The Red Lion pub, for five colleagues who made a collective bid of £60, the most for any M&S slave.

He said: "I got off lightly. Other managers had to spend an hour tidying shoes or working in the coffee shop. It's a chance for them to turn the tables."

The team of colleagues who had made the bid were delighted at his new-found skills: "We chose Gordon because we knew he'd be up for it. He's passed our test, money well-spent."

But pub landlord James Tillotson said: "He needs to be a bit quicker, I'd think twice about taking him on."

The auction has so far raised nearly £400 for the charities and bids are still coming in. Anyone wishing to add to the donations, can do so at any M&S till.

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, May 23, 2002