FUNDRAISERS withstood the bitter cold weather to take part in Chelmsford's annual sleepout in aid of the homeless.
Cocooned in brightly coloured sleeping bags, the volunteers set out to raise as much money as possible for their local charity Chess.
Over 30 people took part in this year's sponsored event.
Cook, Sylvia Lyes, and her two grandchildren, Hope O'Sullivan, 14, and Rebecca Denhart, 23, prepared three warming curries for the brave volunteers to enjoy, having returned from Bristol earlier in the day on November 30.
The sleepers warmed up on the food as they sorted out a space to rest in the grounds of Chelmsford Cathedral at 10pm.
Most people chose to spend the night on the concrete floor as the grass was sodden.
"If I was to do the sleepout I would be dead within the hour, I cannot take the cold, I would have caught hypothermia," said Sylvia, 70, from Chelmsford.
"But I have been cooking the curries for seven years, I normally make a strong curry, a weak chicken curry and a vegetable curry.
"This year I changed the vegetable and made an egg one, and everyone loved it."
Sylvia decided to work for CHESS after her grandchildren grew up and wanted to put something back into the community.
"Yes, some of them might be alcoholics or addicted to drugs, but you have got to ask the question why are they on the streets.
"And the most common reason is that they have never been given any love in their life.
"We are lucky to have been brought up with love and care, and now I want to help these people because they need it."
As the evening wore on, sleepers discovered that cardboard is an insulator, as they wrapped themselves in orange survival bags which also acted as a waterproof.
CHESS operations manager Rob Saggs said: "At one point we wondered if one person in a red sleeping bag was okay because we saw no movement, but on closer inspection we detected shallow breathing of someone snuggly warm and oblivious to the night chill, which by that time had plummeted to -3° C."
At about 6.45am those who had slept and those who had stayed awake, enjoyed a hot cup of tea and a bacon roll prepared by CHESS staff, and they left for their warm beds at home.
Mr Saggs added: "This annual event raises thousands of pounds for CHESS and helps to provide for the Winter Project.
"CHESS is grateful to those who braved the discomfort for a night to raise money.
"This year we have brought forward the start date of that project because of the number of rough sleepers in Chelmsford, so the funds are much needed."
