A WINCHESTER nursery team braved sub-zero temperatures and slept rough to raise money for charity.

Childcare workers from Maples Day Nursery on Hatherley Road slept on the street to raise more than £12,000 for Children Today, a charity supporting young people with disabilities.

Emerging from sleeping bags on flattened cardboard boxes following one of the coldest nights of the year, the four member team from the day nursery in Hatherley Road, Winchester, said the challenge was more difficult than expected and highlighted the plight of the homeless at this time of the year.

The Maples Day Nursery team taking part was Reagan, Chelsea Basley, L’Oren Norman-Greer, and Lauren Rowe.

Manager Reagan Grainger praised her team for their determination to complete the challenge in aid of such a worthy cause.

“We are surrounded by happy, healthy and confident children every day and were all really shocked to learn that children who need this specialised equipment to improve the quality of their lives are dependent on the charity. This equipment is not always provided by the NHS,” she said.

Children Today’s corporate fundraising coordinator Thomas 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."

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Region-Two-Childbase-Partnership.