A WIRRAL business owner slept rough at Goodison park last night as part of a CEO Sleepout event, aimed at raising awareness and money to improve the lives of Merseyside's poorest people.

Gary Wootten, managing director of Hitch Marketing in Bromborough, gave up a night of comfort to sleep outdoors, side-by-side with around 50 other business leaders from across the county, in order to raise money to tackle homelessness and poverty.

Gary, who set up Hitch Marketing three years ago, aims to raise money for the event through the website Just Giving and also pledges to match fund any donations from his own company’s social innovation fund, the Hitch Fund, which is revenue set aside for social change projects linked to serving the most vulnerable in our community.

Gary said: "Before I started my own business I worked with homeless people so when I got the invitation from CEO Sleepout I jumped at the chance to join in.

"I know only too well how lucky I am to have a job and a home and I’m delighted to do my bit to raise money for some of the area’s poorest people.

"Of course sleeping outdoors for one night is nothing like life for people who are forced to live on the streets, but if giving up a night of comfort helps to raise awareness and money then that’s got to be good news for the people who will benefit.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/gary-wootten