Teenagers who spent a night sleeping rough in Harrow town centre have raised hundreds of pounds for a homelessness charity.

More than 25 youngsters from the borough’s National Citizens Service spent the night in their sleeping bags outside the Civic Centre in Station Road on Wednesday to raise more than £750 for the Harrow Churches Housing Association.

The group provides sheltered accommodation to homeless young people, and the cash will go towards providing the service, which relies on donations.

Tafierah Lee-Davis, 15, of Stanmore, said: “I think it’s a really important charity. We all take our homes for granted and I think it will help us be able to emphasise with homeless people and what they have to deal with everyday that bit more.

“Even though what we are doing is only making a small difference, it’s still a difference.”

The teenagers were even visited by New Zealand Paralympic runner Tim Prendergast, who is hoping to repeat his Athens 2004 gold medal in London this summer.

He posed for pictures with his medal with passers-by on the condition that they donated to the group’s cause as part of his role as a mentor with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

He said: “It’s been great seeing the team bond and work so well together. 

“It’s fantastic that they’re doing something positive for their communities, and to really get stuck in and do an event like this – I’m really proud of them all.”

Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for children, Councillor Brian Gate, said it was “fantastic” to see the group – which is run jointly by the council, youth charity vInspired and the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – raising money.

He added:  “I would like to congratulate all of the young people who took part because the sleep-out challenged them all to be empathetic and inspiring, and the team rose to the challenge magnificently.”