People in Oxford are being urged to sleep under the stars for a night to raise awareness of the homelessness problem in the city.

The mass sleepover at St Clement's churchyard also raises thousands of pounds for the charities that help those in need.

Al Bell, one of the organisers, said they were expecting 100 people to camp out for the night - and she urged more people to sign up and get involved.

She said: "It is still not too late to join up and get sponsorship - or pay £20 to sleep in your own bed on the night."

Jim Campbell, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, will be one of the many volunteers slipping into their sleeping bags for the alfresco fundraiser.

He said: "I still need to borrow a sleeping bag from a friend and get some cardboard to lie on.

"It will be interesting. Homelessness is a terribly important issue in Oxfordshire and nationally.

"Donations are not the only answer - it is down to things like social matters, educational matters and Government funding.

"Anything we can do to highlight it and provide money in the short-term is very important."

In October, the Oxford Mail reported that the official number of rough sleepers in the city was falling - but the true figures could be much higher.

Lesley Dewhurst, Oxford Night Shelter director, said the formal figures compiled through fortnightly, single-night counts were the "tip of the iceberg".

The last official count was 14 but she said she knew of at least 90 rough sleepers.

She said: "It is still a problem, in spite of all our best efforts."

Last year, the Oxford sleepout raised £17,000 to help the homeless.

The event has raised more than £100,000 since it began in 1989, with proceeds split between different agencies in Oxford.

Go to www.oxfordsleepout.moonfruit.com for more details about the event.