VULNERABLE people will be kept warm at night, thanks to the kindness of a North-East choir.

The Brompton-on-Swale Ladies Choir raised hundreds of pounds with a passionate performance at the Salvation Army Citadel in Darlington recently.

Their concert saw more than £300 donated to the Citadel’s sleeping bag campaign, which was launched to provide warmth for vulnerable people across the town.

The campaign aims to raise enough money to buy 300 sleeping bags ahead of winter and was initiated in a bid to meet local demand, which appears to be soaring.

Since opening last September, a weekend support service offering food parcels and sleeping bags has helped around 300 people by providing sustenance or warmth.

According to Salvation Army minister Colin Bradshaw, those seeking help cannot be stereotyped and range from pensioners in their 70s to abused women and those trying to cope with job losses and benefit sanctions.

He said: “I’m so grateful to the choir for giving their time and talents to raise £303. Because of their efforts, we can purchase 43 more sleeping bags and together, we are making a difference in our community.”

Donations of money, sleeping bags and food can be posted to Darlington Salvation Army, Thompson St East, DL1 3EW or dropped there between 10am and 11.30am on a Saturday.

All cash donations will go solely towards the purchase of sleeping bags and food.