KENDAL'S Bird Cage became a temporary roof to four volunteers, who took to the streets this week in an overnight protest against homelessness, writes Beth Broomby.

"Although some people scuttled by, embarrassed because they thought we were genuinely homeless, we were very spoiled really.

We had soup at 10.30pm, quiche and hot chocolate at 12pm and a local bar even brought us coffee at around 1am," said Mary Pollitt, project worker at The Granary, Kendal.

Fellow protesters Mal Mason, Charles Nettleton and Colin McClure, who are all connected with the Christian help and advice centre, joined her for the nine-hour stint in their sleeping bags.

By talking to passers-by, the group wanted to raise awareness while gathering funds for homelessness-related projects at The Granary and to date they have raised more than £ 400.

"The other reason for our sleep-out was to let people know that The Granary is moving from The Shakespeare Centre to new premises in Kirkland," said Ms Pollitt.

Ms Pollitt believes the issue of homelessness is a growing concern in the area.

"Many people that stopped to talk said that we do not have a homelessness problem in the Lake District but that isn't true.

This is not Manchester where homelessness is clearly visible but we do have a lot of hidden homelessness.

This is a lovely area to live if you have the right house and the right job but a lot of people here depend on the tourism industry.

They may have accommodation in the summer and then when winter comes around they have no job and no home."

More than 100 flyers were distributed on the night and some passers-by made on-the-spot contributions to the group but the experience was not entirely a pleasant one and the group were exhausted by 6am the next day.

Ms Pollitt said: "Although I had two sleeping bags and even a carry mat it was a really good insight into sleeping on the streets.

I felt quite uneasy and, although the others slept a bit, I could not settle."