Celebrities Sleep Out to support homelessness charity Centrepoint

Radio DJ Sara Cox, James Bond actor Colin Salmon and celebrity chef Marcus Wareing were among those sleeping rough on the streets of London on Thursday night to support youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.

The organisation was hosting its annual fundraiser Sleep Out, which sees famous faces bed down outdoors for a night alongside more than 1,000 members of the capital’s business community.

Zipping up their sleeping bags this year were Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured), designer Sadie Frost, pop star Lee Ryan, former X Factor winner Matt Cardle, Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, actress Lisa Maxwell and DJ Brandon Block.

Maxwell, who turned 53 on Thursday, was surprised with a birthday cake by the event organisers.

They set up camp for the night at Greenwich Peninsula and were entertained by performers – including being read a bedtime story by Christopher Biggins.

Rough sleepers taking part in the event experienced a small part of what life is like for the more than 9,000 16 to 25 year-olds that the charity supports each year.

Centrepoint aims to raise more than £250,000 from the London Sleep Out, which will help to provide vulnerable and homeless young people from across the UK with a warm bed, mental health support and help to access education, training and employment.

The event is part of a national fundraising project taking place in 12 cities across the UK during November.

Centrepoint was founded in 1969 and the Duke of Cambridge became its patron in 2005.

For more information on fundraising go to www.centrepoint.org.uk.

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