Hospice presented with the money a student raised through sleeping rough on Christmas Eve

A hospice has been presented with the money college student Will Sissons raised by sleeping out on Christmas Eve.

Will, 22, from Farndon, raised more than £1,500 for Beaumond House by busking in Newark Town Centre before sleeping rough in Church Gardens.

Will raised half the money through donations and pledges with the rest being matched by Newark College.

The college is part of a cash-giving collective called Pink Ribbon for good causes across the three sites that make up the Lincoln College Group.

Sharron Cawthorne, community and corporate fundraising officer at the hospice, said: "It was a wonderfully brave thing to do.

"When Will approached us saying what he had in mind, we had concerns for his safety sleeping out but we checked his arrangements and the legalities and he was good to go.

"It is certainly one of the more unusual fundraising activities that anyone has ever done for us."

Lecturer Penny Taylor, Newark College's representative on Pink Ribbon, said: "We're so proud of Will and what he achieved and were delighted to match what he raised."

Will said: "I spoken with my friends beforehand and set a target of £150 and raised £1,500.

"I never thought that possible to do. It's really down to everyone who donated though."

Martin Booth, director of education and training at Newark College, said: "What Will has done is to demonstrate the kind of characteristics that we try and espouse here at Newark College - that as well as doing the best that you possibly can in terms of your education, that you develop the characteristics required to be the very best person that you can be in life."