STROUD residents keen to empathise with people living on the streets will sleep rough on the night of Thursday, November 5 and then go to work on the Friday.

OPENhouse, a housing scheme, and Marah, a charity which supports vulnerable adults, are organising the Rough Traders challenge, the first of it’s kind in town.

A spokesman for the event said: “The challenge is to not simply sleep rough on the night but to then function in your normal activities throughout the following day.”

People who wish to be part of the challenge can take part and get sponsorship for sleeping rough and functioning the following day, sponsor someone to take the challenge or, just make a donation to the cause.

For details on how to take part, visit www.roughtraders.org.uk