Blackpool's Big Ryan sleeping rough for homeless and Harbour staff

Ryan, of South Shore, will celebrate his 35th birthday on Thursday morning but instead of being in his own bed, he will be in a sleeping bag on the promenade, having endured a night on the street.

Ryan will be joined in the 12-hour session by pal Josh Morrison, who has helped set up the project's fundraising page.

He said: "I will be doing it for just one night, but as we know there are people who live like this all the time, including winter when it is freezing, wet and windy.

"We are hoping to raise some money for the homeless and to buy 100 pizzas for staff at The Harbour.

"I hope it makes people think about the homeless."

Ryan has had a busy few weeks, staging a sponsored walk at Bloomfield Road stadium in supporting of the RNLI, joining forces with Mag's Beach Cafe 2 on Lytham Road to set up a soup kitchen, and recently handing over a huge haul of sweets, biscuits and chocolates for patients at The Harbour mental health unit in Blackpool.

So far more than £950 has been raised of the £1,000 target.

Ryan's fundraising link is at; https://gf.me/u/y45ttv