TWO Minehead men who slept rough on windswept wooden benches last Saturday night to replicate what it must be like to be homeless have raised over £6,000 for local charities.

Hairdressing salon owner Dan James and his friend Chris Jones bedded down only yards from the sea, outside Minehead RNLI station.

Despite being muffled in heavy clothing, Dan and Chris still found it impossible to sleep for much more than an hour during the night.

“It was windy, damp and cold and we were wet through with moisture from the sea,” Dan said.

“People from nearby houses were kind enough to give us soup and hot drinks but it’s not something I would want to do again in a hurry.

“We were only away from home for 24 hours but it gave us a slight idea of what homeless people have to go through and it doesn’t bear thinking about.”

The money raised by Dan and Chris will be shared by the RNLI and Minehead’s Hope Centre for the homeless and disadvantaged.

The bench that was his bed for the night had a special significance for Dan – it commemorates his late father-in-law, Robin Dyer, who was a lifeboat crew member for ten years.

Dan is hoping that the money raised by the sleep-out will help sponsor a room in the proposed lifeboat station extension in memory of Robin.

The fund-raiser was the latest project of Dan’s “Mr SE” voluntary organisation which supports local charities and helps boost the community spirit in the town.

“We had hoped to raise around £5,000 but now we have topped £6,000 and money is still coming in, he said. “We have been blown away by the support we’ve had.”

There is still time to contribute to the project by going to www.justgiving.com/MR S E EVENTS.