MORE than 100 people spent the night under the stars – and the stones – to raise thousands for a homelessness charity.

The Alabaré charity welcomed 120 people – including Time Team legend Phil Harding – to Wiltshire for the first BIG Sleep Stonehenge event.

And the national charity has now revealed a whopping £52,000 was raised “thanks to a group of incredible supporters”.

Participants, ranging in age from teenagers to an 84-year-old, bedded down at the world-famous monument’s visitor centre on Friday night (November 14), with each supporting the charity’s work to break the cycle of homelessness for veterans.

Despite Storm Claudia threatening to dampen spirits, with a yellow weather warning in place, participants were greeted with pouring rain and windy conditions as they arrived, but the forecast improved as the night went on.

The skies finally cleared to allow some stargazing during the evening, and a poignant sunrise visit to the stone circle itself, which included a Remembrance service for fallen heroes.

The participants got to visit the stone circle for sunrise

BIG Sleep Stonehenge is the first time a charity has been granted permission from English Heritage to hold a public sleepout at the site.

Money raised will go directly to the charity’s services, “providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds for former military personnel who find themselves homeless or at risk of reaching a crisis point”.

James Tomlinson, Alabaré director of strategic communications, said: “It wasn’t an easy night, with the changeable weather as well as the lights and sounds resonating from the Stonehenge throughout the night.

“But that made the experience all the more authentic for those taking part to understand what it’s always like for rough sleepers.

“The idea of having to do that night after night while sleep-deprived is heartbreaking, and we’re pleased to have so many supporters willing to take on the challenge and raise an amazing amount of money that will help us to break the cycle of veterans’ homelessness for more people.”

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As well as TV archaeologist Phil, supporters on the night included Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr John Wells, multiple world record-holding marathon runner and contestant on TV reality show Destination X, Nick Butter, and social media food influencer Hungry Woman Cooks, also known as Sam Balshaw.

Phil said: “I’ve never done this before and pushed myself in quite this way, and I know it’s only been one night with a level of inconvenience and discomfort, but it is just one night.

“For so many people, that’s every night – and I want to share that experience and help others.

“There’s a real community bond and strength between everyone that’s here and registered, just as I think there’s a unique bond between those who are homeless.

“They’re rooting for each other, as we’re all rooting for them.”

The participants bedded down at the visitor centre. Picture: AndreapallA Photography

Nick said: “There are over 300,000 people who don’t have homes to go to, so the very least I can do is rock up and sleep, slightly uncomfortably for one night, out of choice. That’s the important thing to remember: we have a choice in doing this.

“This is a way to hopefully do our bit, to start to get to the root cause and get people off the streets. Veterans have served us, and it’s time we step up and help them.

“I’m honestly honoured to have been here, hearing the stories from veterans has been incredibly moving and being here has been really special.”

Alabaré thanked English Heritage and the Salisbury branch of Gail’s Bakery for providing soup, rolls and pastries for sleepers before and after the event, as well as Andover-based companies Twinings and Rich Products for bringing teams of participants to sleep out, in addition to tea and snacks to keep supporters sustained during the night.