Among the 135 participants of a homeless charity's sleep out event, a mum brought four of her 12 children along and an 84-year-old completed her 25th sleep out year.

Threshold's annual mass Big SleepOut returned bigger and better this year as families and friends braved the cold December weather to raise money for the homeless.

Sister Mary, from Poor Servants of the Mother of God, has done her fair share of sleep outs. She also helped to run a breakfast club for the homeless for several years.

But she was back again to face a winter night with her former pupil and friend Liz.

She said: “I love the homeless and I am very disturbed by the treatment they get. They should be given accommodation and not be moved around as if they were pieces of furniture.

“Since Michael Keenan [Threshold’s Chief Development Officer] came on the scene, things have improved.

“I would say it takes the whole weekend to warm up your bones.

“I can’t take the cold but this time it wasn’t that cold.”

Sister Mary’s most memorable sleep out was back in 2009 when she recalls snow hitting Swindon.

She added: “That’s the only time I’ve been really worried about it. But God was on my side because it was the mildest night I’ve ever done in the end.”

Mum Naomi Whitehouse brought children Liesje, 13, Ishmael, 11, Annie, 8, and Ruthie, 6, with her.

She said: “I’ve posted it on my Facebook so people can donate and I will also be donating.

Swindon Advertiser:

“It is awful. We’re a relatively well-off country and it shouldn’t be happening. You don’t want to see anyone out in this weather. You just think when you go outside, ‘how are they surviving?’.”

“It’s a fun way to raise money. I didn’t realise the children would all have so much fun. They were really looking forward to it.

“It was an equivalent to an all you can eat buffet. I really psyched myself out before but it was like a party.”

To find out more about the charity, click here where you can donate via wonderful.org, PayPal, BACs, cheque or cash.