MP Richard Fuller is sleeping rough in a Bedford car park

He is one of the volunteers taking part in the YMCA’s sponsored Sleep Easy, which is set to raise around £5,000 for the charity’s local projects.

Sleep Easy is part of a YMCA national initiative to help change the lives of vulnerable young people.

YMCA Bedfordshire runs four schemes in Bedford offering a total of 97 supported living places.

Spokesman Paul Kellett said: “The Sleep Easy is a major fundraiser for us and happens every two years. Already Friday’s event looks like being a success – but we’re trying not to think about how cold it will be!”

Children who want to do their bit for the YMCA are being encouraged to do a sponsored ‘sofasurf’ by sleeping on their sofa at home for the night.

“The youngest sofasurfer will be just two years old – a little girl called Chloe,” said Paul.

The sponsored rough sleepers will spend the night in the Viking Self Storage company car park on Elms Park industrial estate.

Anybody wanting to reward their efforts can make a donation via www.ymcabedfordshire.org.uk and clicking on the JustGiving link.