IT’S that time of year again to get out your sleeping bag, put on your pyjamas and get snugly with strangers to raise money for the homeless.

Local charity Trinity is once again calling on people to sign up for the Big Sleep-Out – their annual fundraiser for people sleeping rough.

And to launch the start of the event they were joined by staff at Winchester estate agents Goadsby on Friday seeing staff donning the finest pjs and dressing gowns.

Chris Pickard, branch manager, said: “We did it a couple of years ago and it’s a good cause for the city so when the opportunity came again we jumped at the chance.

“We raised £1,000 before so we hope to beat that this year.”

Trinity are hoping around 200-300 people will sign up to the event, which takes place in the Cathedral grounds on May 8, to beat the 170 people who joined last year.

The event starts at 7pm, with live music, games and entertainment, until about 10pm when it’s time for the big sleep.

Michelle Gardner, Trinity’s director of strategy and fundraising, said: “We’re not thinking for one minute that we’re experiencing what it’s like to rough-sleep. This is just a way of raising money for those who do.

“We have got to raise money and we want to do it in a creative way.

“We’re hoping to smash last year and this is our biggest fundraising event in the calendar so we’re hoping it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.”

To find out more visit sleepoutwinchester.co.uk and to donate to the Goadsby team visit justgiving.com/goadsby-winchester.