THE mother of the Salisbury family who took part in a Channel 5 reality show has described the experience as 'the best thing we've ever done'.

Jo Coleman, 49, and husband Peter, 52, and their two children Lucy, 14, and Matthew, 15, swapped lives for a week as part of Rich House Poor House.

The family, who live in a four-bedroom house on Harnham Hill, swapped houses with swimming instructor Terry, who lives with her two children in a three-bedroom flat in Hampshire.

Jo described the process as "quite exhausting, and very intense".

"It was quite scary, because you genuinely do not have a clue where you are going", said Jo.

As part of the show, the two families also swapped budgets, with the Coleman family going from a weekly budget after bills of around £1,800 down to £157.

This budget had to cover food, petrol, and any other activities the family wanted to do during the week.

"Normally we'd spent Terry's entire weekly budget just on food, so we definitely had to make changes to the way we eat and shop", said Jo.

All in all, Jo says the family had a very positive experience: "It made us realise some important things about our lives, and do some real soul-searching.

"Peter was working crazy hours, and has now dropped down to four days a week so he can spend more time with the family, and we have realised that money can buy you security, money can buy you choice, but happiness comes from friends and family."

The two families have also become friends as a result of the show, says Jo.

"Terry is brilliant, we get on really well, and we have all seen each other twice since we filmed the show in August".

Jo added: "It was also a good experience for the children, who have lived in a bit of a bubble, and hopefully they now realise how fortunate they are."

Rich House Poor House is on Channel 5 at 9pm on Thursday, October 4.