YOUNG explorer scouts in Leominster are helping to tackle homelessness this winter.

When the new explorer unit formed in September as an attachment of the 1st Leominster Scout Group, the group's 14 to 18 year olds decided they wanted to give something back to the community.

And on December 19 they're going to experience homelessness first hand, spending 24 hours living rough with a budget of just 80p each for food.

The teenagers will sleep outside of the doorway of the scout hut but will not be allowed tents or roll mats – they'll have to make their own shelter from whatever they can find.

Hayley Kitchen, the club's treasurer, said: "We had a clear plan from the start that as well as a real challenge we wanted them to really understand this serious issue.

"We had an evening with Martin Vincent who has worked with the homeless for many years and learned an awful lot.

"For instance we won’t be helping at a soup kitchen, as most people suggested. We now understand that as you come up to Christmas many people do this – the homeless are quite often 'souped out' and because soup is full of salt getting clean water is a real issue.

"Instead we are looking for sponsorship which will be used to buy supplies for the Leominster Community Larder which helps people in critical need within our town as well as helping them with some of the more mundane tasks that have to be done behind the scenes."

Anyone that can sponsor an explorer or would like to donate can email info@leominsterscouts.co.uk or find the group on Facebook.