£500,000 raised for homeless

More than 2,000 people have signed up to a rough sleeping event dubbed “Live Aid” for the homeless, raising £500,000 in less than a month.

Organisers hope the Sleep in the Park event in December will eventually see around 9,000 people camp overnight at Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh to raise cash for charitable organisation Social Bite.

Liam Gallagher, Sir Bob Geldof and John Cleese are among the stars expected to take part.

Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn said: “I am blown away by the kindness of Scotland. It’s been an incredible response to see over 2,000 sign up to take part in Sleep in the Park in just three weeks, raising £500,000 in the process.

“We raised half a million pounds last year at our CEO Sleep Out, and to match this in such a short space of time is testament to the compassion of the people getting behind the event.”

Organisers have set a fundraising target of £4 million for the event and hope it can become the world’s largest sleep out.

Musicians including Liam Gallagher, Amy Macdonald, Deacon Blue and Frightened Rabbit will perform acoustic “busker” sets at the Ross Bandstand in the gardens.

Mr Littlejohn added: “I’d like to thank those who are already taking part in Sleep in the Park, but would urge others to do the same and join us.”