WRAPPED up in nothing more than Daily Echos, teens slept on the streets for a night to raise cash for India’s “untouchables”.

About a dozen young people from Testwood Baptist Church in Totton raised more than £600 to help the Dalits in India – people tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure.

One teen from Totton who has just got a place at Cardiff University even cycled the 110-mile journey from the Welsh capital to the church especially for the youth group event.

Libby Mahoney, 18, joined a group of youngsters aged 14-18 in the sleep-rough fundraiser which saw the teens use just cardboard boxes, Daily Echos and bin liners to keep warm. In the freezing night, the group wore only the bare essentials and did not use sleeping bags, hats, gloves, thermal underwear or coats.

Youth Pastor Ray King said: “We really do not appreciate what it is like to have nothing. We have education, we have so much material wealth yet these people are literally untouchable. We will have raised well in excess of £600, but my hope is that out of this exercise, one young person may take it to their heart and want to make extra efforts to assist those who are in abject poverty. It is our duty as human beings to help those with real need.”

The team wanted to become rough sleepers to experience what a young seven-year-old girl called Neha, who they sponsor, is forced to endure.

The money will help Niha to have an education and will also help the Operation Mobilisation Dalit Education Centres in Northern India.

For more information on how to get involved call 023 8086 0320.