DEDICATED trainer collectors are braving the elements - for three cold nights - in a bid to get their hands on a rare pair of Blackburn shoes.

Only 200 pairs of adidas Blackburn SPEZIAL trainers, featuring the homeless charity Nightsafe’s logo, will be released at an exhibition on Friday.

The proceeds from the kicks, which collectors estimate will cost around £100, will go towards the charity, which helps vulnerable, homeless youngsters.

The collectors camped outside The Cotton Exchange in Blackburn Town Centre, where the trainer exhibition will be held, on Tuesday night and will be there until it opens on Friday.

The adidas SPEZIAL exhibition will showcase the evolution of adidas footwear past and present. It will be part of the first British Textile Biennial – with Blackburn being a hub of events.

Collector Andy Burns, from Wythenshawe, took four days holiday leave from the cheese factory he works in to be at the front of the queue.

The 54-year-old said: “Camping out is all part of the fun.

“It’s great to meet people and make friends, there’s lots of comradery between us. By getting here very early it means we will definitely get a pair.

“It was a bit cold on Wednesday night and we think it will be cold again on the other nights.”

Temperatures were close to freezing on Wednesday night with frost appearing on cars and grassy areas.

Josh Livesey, 23, from Blackburn, has more than 50 pairs of trainers.

He said: “I love collecting these.

“There’s something about trainers that a lot of people like. They’re great to own.

“You only get serious collectors queueing up days before.”

The trainers will go on sale at noon on Friday.