Two friends from Pendle will be sleeping rough in Barnoldswick to highlight the plight of homeless people.

Seventeen-year-old Lyle Davy, of Barnoldswick, and his friend, Paul White, a Pendle councillor, will be joined by a team of people who will ditch their mattresses to sleep rough on the town square from 7pm next Saturday, March 8.

The SleepEasyBarlick challenge was organised to highlight the plight of homeless people in East Lancashire, but also to raise money allow the YMCA in Blackburn to provide more bed spaces.

Lyle, a business student at Nelson and Colne College, said: “We’ve had a lot of interest already, particularly through the college. I know some of my lecturers will be joining in.”

“It’s a really important issue and it seems to be connecting with a lot of young people. The response has been terrific. It’s great to be able to get young people together to do good for the wider community, and it’s fantastic that any money raised by us will be used here in Pendle.”

Paul said: “We want to raise awareness that this is an issue for young people who might not necessarily know where to turn. Here in Barnoldswick a young man contacted the YMCA last year. We want to provide the funding so the local branch is in a position to help.”

Barnoldswick bed and mattress manufacturer Silentnight has backed the campaign and will sponsor the team for the 12-hour event.

Richard Logan, chief operations officer of the Silentnight Group, said: “We are delighted to support such a worthwhile cause and the team who are doing such a fantastic job in terms of raising awareness for young homeless people in our local community.”

Lyle said: “It’s great that Silentnight have backed the event, and obviously it fits really well with what they do. They’re a great local company with many local employees, so it will help to raise awareness.”

To join the team sleeping rough or to sponsor the event, visit sleepeasybarlick.co.uk.