ESTATE agents in Dunmow will be sleeping rough for homeless charity Shelter.

Intercounty estate agents from the Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Great Dunmow branches will be staying outside their offices in sleeping bags for 24 hours from 6.30am on Saturday (June 11).

The idea came from managing director Greg Young, who aims to raise �20,000.

Mr Young said about his fund-raising idea: “I knew I wasn’t going to be jumping from a plane or running a marathon and, after testing the idea on a number of valued associates, I decided that we would try to encourage our own clients to make a donation and that we would match them �20 for �20 in doing so.

“And while the problems caused by bad housing run much deeper than what we see on the streets, sleeping rough for a night seemed the perfect springboard into our campaign to raise money and awareness.”

Kate Pollard, head of corporate, community and events at Shelter, said: “We are extremely grateful to Greg and Intercounty estate agents for raising money for Shelter and we are very excited about working with them.”

Shelter is a national charity that works to ease the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. It supports people by offering advice and information to those in need.

To sponsor the Intercounty estate agents and donate money to Shelter visit http://

virginmoneygiving.com/intercounty

FACTS about the homeless

• 1 in 2 of those with a physical health problem that is related to sleeping rough are not receiving treatment.

• Over 1 in 3 (38 per cent) of those with respiratory problems are not receiving treatment

• 1 in 3 homeless people with a cardiovascular problem are not receiving treatment. Their average life expectancy is now 42 down from 47 less than a decade ago

• Rough sleepers between 45 and 62 have a death rate 25 times that of people aged between 45 and 62 from the general population