A charity that provides a hot meal, support and friendship to vulnerable adults of Darwen have completed a sleep out to raise funds of more than £5,000.

Darwen Food Share is a community interest company that helps people every Monday evening at St Peters Church on Bank Street. 

They are all volunteers and every penny they raise goes back to helping their guests, with their latest fundraiser being a sleep out at Whitehall Park, Darwen, on Saturday, November 11.

Two local businesses generously provide their hot food, but they still need approximately £10,000 per annum to run.

A spokesperson for Darwen Food Share said: "During the five years we have been running we have been proud to see that our guests have formed their own community and now help and support each other.

"We believe that our food share does make a difference to people who are often overlooked in society.

"We have been lucky to have support and donations from local businesses and the people of Darwen but we are now in need of more funds to continue our food share."

The 18 volunteers who took part in the sleep out managed to raise £5,990, with donations available until the end of November.

The spokesperson added: "We did it! 18 volunteers survived a night under the stars.

"We were very cold, woke up in frozen sleeping bags, and had little sleep but a night we will never forget.

"Once again thank you to everyone who slept out and for all the helpers, especially Fiona and everyone who provided the delicious food.

"A huge thanks to Lee Banks from Whitehead Butchers, Edgworth, for donating supplies for our cooked breakfast and to Emma for getting up at 6.30am to cook it for us.

"And finally to everyone who donated, our next year of funding is now secure! You are all amazing.

"Thank you, your donation makes a difference!"

If you would like to donate, visit Darwen Food Share's JustGiving page.