TWO professors from Teesside University will be sleeping rough for the night as part of a huge charity event that aims to put homelessness in the spotlight.

Azrini Wahidin and Dorothy Newbury-Birch will be braving a cold night outside at Preston Park Museum on November 2 as part of the CEO sleepout.

Executives who sleep outdoors for one night raise money for the charity by bringing in sponsorship from their business contacts and colleagues.

Prof Wahidin and Prof Newbury-Birch have already enlisted several colleagues to join them.

Their current research is closely linked to the issues and consequences of homelessness, substance misuse and deprivation.

Prof Wahidin said: “Nationally homelessness is on the rise and it is alarming when you think in 2017 there are still people sleeping under bridges, in car parks and on park benches. There are people who say they would rather be in prison than be homeless, which is a sad indictment of society.

“Homeless people have a life expectancy of just 47 years of age and are 17 times more likely to be victims of violence. Women on the street face the real fear of sexual exploitation."

To sponsor the professors visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dorothy-newbury-birch.