PEOPLE aged from seven to 70 got a taste of what it is like to homeless at Christmas when they joined a sleep out in Devizes.

The group slept in the churchyard of St Mary's to show support for the Devizes charity Opendoors which supports homeless people in the town with a drop in centre and outreach work.

The sponsored sleepout raised money to pay for meals cooked each week at St John's Parish Rooms but also gave those taking part an insight into the lives of rough sleepers.

One of the organisers Sally Rhodes said: “What a great privilege to be involved with Opendoors, seeing first-hand the support and enthusiasm from volunteers. Our supporters and our sponsors are amazing and have made this year’s sleep out a real a success."

The17 people created their own sleeping structures from newspaper that were tested by dropping a raw egg from height. John Saunders from Opendoors said: "At about 11pm after soup or hot chocolate, people started bedding down. Most chose to sleep outside in the church yard.

"Others took the more comfortable option and settled down in the church itself. Some found it difficult to sleep because of the noise of traffic and the uncertainty of who might be about.

"Several said that it had had quite a sobering effect on them and they had now got a lot more sympathy with those who are sleeping rough night after night, without a bed to go home to."

Sponsorship is still being collected.