Hundreds brave elements for Big Sleep-Out

Tonight will see hundreds of hardy volunteers converging on Parkgate Shopping to take part in the fourth annual charity Sleep-Out in aid of Safe@Last.

The Rotherham-based charity for runaway homeless children attracts plenty of celebrity support, as demonstrated by the popularlity of Charity Chicks, its temporary charity shop at Meadowhall.

As well as raising valuable funds, the annual Sleep-out draws attention to the danger and plight of vulnerable children under 16 who have run away from home or are at risk of doing so.

While the Sleep-Out are still tucked up in their sleeping bags, a group of 20 soldiers from 4th and 5th Regiment Royal Artillery will be leaving their Catterick barracks bound for Parkgate to take part in Rotherham's first major Help the Heroes fund raising day in aid of wounded soldiers tomorrow.

When they arrive in Rotherham, they will be joined by the  town's own Air Cadets from 218 Squadron based at Eastwood.

To give shoppers an insight into life on the front line in Afghanistan, which many of them have experienced, the Regiment will be bringing some military equipment, including a mortar detecting radar instrument, extra strong binoculars and a field gun.

“This weekend will be one that we will remember for a long time at Parkgate, and for all the right reasons," said Parkgate's operations manager, Billy Smith.