“I spent a bloody long time on it. I’m fortunate that I’m my own boss, and I’m near a computer. The problem is that it’s there all the time and it has affected my concentration at work.”

“I’ve found RBS and Barclays have been the best ones for me, but I suppose later on in the competition I got lazy as well, then I started reading bulletin boards online, which didn’t do me any good and you can end up getting brainwashed. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it – it was great.”

As well as deciding the ultimate winner of our first Taking Stock competition, today in offices across the region staff and friends will be vying for bragging rights in their own mini-leagues.

Read The Journal tomorrow to find out the winner of the overall Taking Stock competition, who will receive a luxury half-board stay at Matfen Hall in Northumberland and £500.