VOLUNTEERS took to a street in Atherton to help raise money for an emergency shelter to house homeless people through the winter.

Atherton and Leigh shelter for HoPe is aiming to raise £10,000 to enable the shelter, which has been provided by Wigan Council to bring 15 people in out of the cold until the end of March.

On Saturday, 40 people braved the cold, from 8pm to 5.30am on Sunday, outside the Snug Coffee Shop, on Market Street, to raise awareness and fund the running of the emergency night shelter at Etherstone Street, Leigh.

The manager of the Atherton and Leigh Foodbank, Warren Done, who is also the shelter's team leader said: "It was a very cold night and even though we were wrapped up well, it brought about the reality of how difficult it is when you are homeless and facing another night on the streets in cold conditions.

"Not only was it cold, but also it was very uncomfortable and can saw how dangerous it could be."

Among the volunteers on Saturday night was 5th Tyldesley cub leaders David Simpson and John Worrall,

Mr Simpson said: "Shockingly, the number of people sleeping on our streets has doubled in just five years and more than 120,000 children across Britain face spending this Christmas homeless and in temporary accommodation. I'm sure you'll agree that this is totally unacceptable and something has to be done."

The cubs have currently raised £1,095 towards its target of £1,250 but to donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/davidandjohnsponsoredsleepout

Mr Done is hoping that the money raised will tie the group over until April, when it is hoping it can secure funding from various bodies to run a full time shelter for the homeless.

He explains: "We have raised approximately £7,000 which will go a long way to help us run the new but temporary accommodation in Leigh centre.

Thanks to the support of Wigan Council, we will have 15 beds available for men and women who find themselves homeless. they will be able to come with a referral only from a frontline care agency in the borough.

"I would like to thank all those who braved the cold on the sleep out and a massive thanks to all who sponsored them, to the trustees and people who have worked tirelessly behinds the scenes all year to pull this together."