Cosy warm duvets were swapped for cardboard boxes and a cold Kingston night to raise money for and awareness of the homeless.

More than 100 volunteers bedded down in Kingston’s Memorial Gardens for the sponsored Sleep Easy event which raises funds for organisers YMCA London South West, Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness and Faith in Action.

The sleepers included a Chessington family, 12 police cadets, 10 Kingston explorer scouts, three Surrey Comet and Kingston Guardian reporters and 14 Marymount International School pupils.

Surbiton High School student Finola Hogg was wearing an all in one boiler suit that she hoped would help keep the chill off.

The 16-year-old said: “I think it’s a really worthy cause, you see homeless people in the street a lot. We are embracing sleeping out under the stars and the spirit of being homeless.”

Sleepers enjoyed a hearty homemade soup at midnight, a 5.30am wakeup with bacon butties and competed to win the title for the best shelter built, during the event on Saturday, January 28.

Youngsters from Holy Trinity Church, Claygate won the prize for their five-compartment shelter.

William Stolley, 16, said: “The first year we just focused on presentation and froze to death. The second year we made a giant castle which fell down so this year we thought warmth was the best option.

“It’s good for charity, it’s something fun to do, is different and is kind of like seeing what it would be like to be homeless, although it is obviously much tougher for them.”

Kingston Job Centre worker Elaine Blackmoor had convinced her two colleagues, all in their 50s to take part.

She said: “It seemed like a good idea in the summer but we are still glad we came. When we told friends, family and colleague I think they thought it would just be us out on the streets. We haven’t got a castle or anything just a box but we will survive.”