Rector to sleep rough for charity

Rector John Light has been in charge of the school since 1995

The rector of a private school in Edinburgh is to sleep rough with his pupils in a bid to raise money for a threatened homeless cafe.

John Light will join about 50 children from Edinburgh Academy to spend the night in the grounds of the school on Friday 4 May.

The Ark Trust's cafe in New Street is to close in June after Edinburgh Council pulled its £167,000 funding.

It is hoped sponsorship money from the sleep-out will help keep the cafe open.

Walk-by

Mr Light, told BBC Scotland News Website that he once did a sponsored sleep more than 10 years ago.

He said: "It wasn't the most pleasant experience and I didn't get much sleep.

"We will be sleeping in the school yard but I want to stress this was instigated by the pupils.

"It will be very interesting for the youngsters to experience sleeping outside, so I hope they all do it for the right reasons and not for the hard man's sleep-out.

"There are two great factors why we should do this, one is to raise a penny for a worthwhile cause and two to raise awareness to the homeless who deserve our sympathy not just our walk-by."