THERE were no mattresses, no duvets and no home comforts as people bedded down on the cold, hard floor of the cathedral cloisters for the night.

Twenty four fundraisers braved the cold to raise almost £5,000 for the city's homeless charities St Paul's Hostel and Maggs Day Centre.

As national charity Crisis revealed there had been a 16 per cent increase in rough sleeping in the UK in a single year, the group spent a Saturday night in the cloisters to raise awareness and money for the city’s homeless.

Worcestershire poet Claire Badsey, who experienced homelessness after the breakdown of a relationship, delivered a poetry set as part of the sleep-in.

Through her collection of poems, she described the grim reality of being without a home, sharing the sadness of feeling invisible and lost, but also the hope she found through St Paul’s.

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Atkinson, Dean of Worcester Cathedral, said "Worcester Cathedral actively supports the excellent work done by the homelessness agencies in the city.

"We were glad to host this initiative to raise awareness of the needs of homeless people."

The event was organised by Samm Hale, who said: "We were moved by the passion of Worcester’s residents to support this cause.

"Homelessness is on the rise in the city and we have a duty to protect those in need."

She added that the event had already raised just over £4,700 so far but that there is still time to donate at virginmoneygiving.com/Sleep_in_The_Cloisters_Challenge.

Jonathan Sutton, from St Paul's Hostel, said: "Swapping a cosy night in a bed for a stone-cold concrete pillow shows a gutsy determination to take action help homeless people.

"We are very grateful and we will use this donation carefully to help the 300 people who cross our doorstep each year."

Mel Kirk, chief executive of Maggs said: "Thank you so much for organizing this event that highlights how hard it is to sleep out on the streets especially at this time of the year."

For more information about St Paul’s Hostel and the Maggs Day Centre Centre contact admin@stpaulshostel.co.uk or mkirk@maggsdaycentre.co.uk.