STAFF from two Oxford day nurseries braved the freezing cold and pouring rain for a 'sleep out' to help raise £12,000 for a charity that supports young people with disabilities.

The fundraiser was held nationwide by Childbase Partnership which runs day nurseries across the south of England and was raising money for charity Children Today.

Headington-based nurseries Sandfield Nursery, Sandfield Road, and Julia Durbin Nursery, Roosevelt Drive, were one of the 43 to take part and do their bit to raise the impressive sum.

Braving the elements to highlight the plight of homeless people while also raising money for the charity, staff found the challenge was much more difficult than they had first expected.

However, Sandfield Day Nursery manager Kim Hambridge said that everybody taking part was determined to complete the challenge and support the cause despite the rain and cold.

She said: "We are surrounded by happy, healthy and confident children every day and were all really shocked to learn that young people who need specialised equipment to improve the quality of their lives are dependent on this charity.

"The equipment they need, like ventilation machines for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, is not always provided by the NHS."

Children Today's corporate fundraising co-ordinator Thomas Williams and colleague Jessica Chiverton-Stanway also joined the more than 100 fundraisers from day nurseries across the south of England for the sleep out.

Mr Williams said: "We have been astounded by the generosity of Childbase and wanted to mark our partnership by taking part in this special event.

"As our charity relies totally on voluntary donations, support like this is vital to our work in helping improve the quality of life for many children and young people with disabilities.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole Childbase team for their amazing efforts."

The team from Julia Durbin Day Nursery was made up of Jade Wyatt, Karina Malin and Kayleigh Shaw.

At Sandfield Day Nursery manager Kim Hambridge was joined by regional director Michelle Bordessa who also braved the outdoors for the charity drive.

The money raised was a combined effort from all of the nurseries and the Headington contingent raised more than £1,000 for its part in the fundraiser.

The sleep out took place at the Childbase Partnership Headquarters at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire on Friday January 27.

Stansfeld and Julia Durbin Day Nurseries, part of the Childbase Partnerhip, look after children aged between six weeks and five years and are both rated outstanding by Ofsted.