Coalville Armed Forces Veterans will be on the streets of the town later this month to raise awareness of the 6,000 homeless Veterans nationally.

Local Vets will be in the Belvoir Shopping Centre during the day on March 26 - and then sleeping out overnight at the Clocktower Memorial and CoalvilleCAN Offices in Memorial Square.

The Veterans, aged between 30 and 75, along with volunteers from the CoalvilleCAN community group, will be making their own shelter as part of the annual Great Tommy Sleep Out event run by Royal British Legion Industries.

CoalvilleCAN have offered their premises as the headquarters for the event and they, and other local businesses Hermitage FM and The Coal Bunker, are supporting the group throughout the day.

A spokesperson said: "Over 6,000 of our brothers and sisters have served their country and now find themselves homeless for many reasons.

"We are hoping to raise awareness and funds to help them re-integrate through projects run by Royal British Legion Industries. Our group is made up of Veterans from all of the Armed Forces and covering a wide age range.

"All of them feel that Veterans do not receive the support they deserve once they leave the Armed Forces and hope that this event will bring the plight of homeless Veterans to the front of people's minds, if only for a short time.

"Posters and flyers are all around the town – please come and say hello!"

Anyone wishing to join the group can make contact through Facebook – Coalville Armed Forces Veterans Noticeboard or by calling or messaging Julie Smith on 07957 131361.

The RBLI website says: "Every pound raised from The Great Tommy Sleep Out helps to support the UK's most vulnerable veterans by allowing RBLI to provide safe homes and the support they need to get back on their feet.

"Our emergency accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion, has seen enormous benefit from the funds and awareness raised.

"RBLI has ambitious plans to expand the outstanding facilities, care and welfare services we provide.

"The major expansion, scheduled for completion in 2024, will vastly increase the unique mix of homes for veterans and their families.

"When complete, our expanded village will mean RBLI can support an additional 600 veterans annually for the next 100 years."