Ever wondered what it would be like to sleep rough in the middle of the bitter British winter?

Well the Doorway Project, a Chippenham-based charity supporting Wiltshire’s homeless population, is offering people the chance to experience exactly that.

Later this month Doorway is running a sponsored sleepout, to raise money and awareness for the charity as well as giving participants a taste of life on the streets.

Lisa Lewis, Doorway’s chief executive, said: “We have done three of these before and they have always gone really well.

“The first time we made more than £10,000 and had Duncan Hames come out with us. We had a year off last year but now it’s back and hopefully plenty of people will want to get involved.”

The sleepout lasts 12 hours, from 7pm on January 28 to 7am on January 29 outside St Andrew’s Church and will again be open to under-18s.

Town mayor David Powell and Chippenham MP Mr Hames will also be attending to lend their support.

Mrs Lewis said: “Last time we did it at the rugby club and we opened it up to youngsters because we wanted them to be able to experience it too. We’ve decided to do the same this year “I think people get a lot out of the experience. There is a real feeling of survival, when they wake up in the morning – if they were lucky enough to get some sleep. It is a big thing for a lot of people.

“It is very humbling. You can never replace the feeling of long-term rough sleeping but it gives people an idea of what it is like. We are all very lucky to be able to go home to a warm bed the next day.”

To get involved, call Doorway on (01249) 445385 or visit www.doorwayproject. org.uk to download an information pack.