Get your hands on a cool £100,000

Magician David Blaine once entombed himself in a block of ice for the sake of art. Now a drinks company has come up with a new slant on the stunt for the sake of profit - and it will net a fortune for one lucky Londoner.

Tomorrow, what is claimed to be the biggest ice cube in the world will be unveiled at Broadgate Arena in the City. Inside will be £100,000.

As it melts the 10-tonne cube will first reveal 100 bottles each containing £500. At the centre will be a briefcase with £50,000 inside.

Hopefuls will get one minute to rub away at the cube in the hope of getting a bottle - and if they are lucky enough to be there when the ice melts sufficiently, will pull a rip-cord attached to the briefcase to sound an alarm - and pick up the £50,000 main prize.

"We have no idea how popular it will be - we could get 100 people, we could get 10,000," said a Smirnoff spokesman.

The stunt, intended to publicise the distiller's new Black Ice drink, will begin at 10am tomorrow.

Security will be tight, and secret weapons to hasten melting, such as cigarette-lighters, will be forbidden.

"People will have to wear protective goggles and gloves, and there will be security to stop you from whipping out a can of anti-freeze," the spokesman said.