AS dawn broke over Ewood Park on Saturday morning, more than 100 people stirred from a restless slumber in the cold grounds of Blackburn Rovers' stadium.

Participants in the first ever Sleep Out for Blackburn, hosted by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, woke, bleary eyed and freezing, after spending a night sleeping rough in order to raise money and awareness for homelessness.

Packed into the Darwen End, sleepers arrived at 8pm on Friday and were provided with cardboard boxes as makeshift beds, to give them an insight into the severity of sleeping conditions that homeless people have to face.

Wayne Hartley who was there with staff from Darwen Vale High School, said: "We slept out at the pitchside so we could get a feel for what it's like to really sleep outside, and it was really cold.

"Nobody would choose to live like this. I think everyone should take part in something like this, as I'd never wish homelessness on anyone."

Rachel Moorcroft, who slept out with her friend Nicola Ingham, said she felt vulnerable even though she was inside the stadium.

She said: "I slept ok but I really felt the cold about 4.30am and can now understand why a lot of homeless people sleep during the day; we get to go home now, they don't."

Christine St John, who was there with her son, Oliver said: "People need to be less judgemental about homeless people, some of them may have had jobs and their circumstances could have changed quickly leaving them no choice but to sleep rough."

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust Events Officer, Jess Clegg, who organised the event said: "We had over 130 people sleep out last night and everyone came in high spirits to help raise money. So far we've raised over £25,000 and sponsorship is will still be open until December 17."

By 8am on Saturday Ewood Park was empty and for all the participants, this was just one night of experiencing what it was like to sleep rough outside, in a relatively safe environment.

But for the hundreds of homeless people forced to sleep on the streets of East Lancs every night, with no shelter, no access to food or toilets, and nowhere to go 'home' to in the morning, it’s an entirely different story.

The money raised from Friday's Sleep Out is being split evenly between homeless support organisation, Nightsafe, and the club’s official charity, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, who will reinvest the money raised in future projects relating homelessness.

For more information or to donate, contact Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.