An ex-pub landlord is planning on sleeping outside for two nights as part of a national fundraiser for homeless veterans.

William Taylor, 58, and his one-year-old Rottweiler Charley, will be sleeping under the stars tonight (March 27) and Monday evening in a bid to raise £500 to help get homeless veterans off the streets.

As part of a national scheme throughout March by the Royal British Legion Industries called ‘The Great Tommy Sleepout’, William is hoping to spend just under 48 hours sleeping by the war memorial in Oak Hill Park.

William said that he wanted to do his bit to help homeless veterans after being angered by seeing ‘how they are treated’.

He said: “For a country like ours, I cannot believe how our veterans are treated, allowing them to end up on the streets.

“I am doing this to help them. I will be staying out from around 3pm on Sunday until lunchtime on Tuesday with just a sleeping bag.

“No matter the weather, I will be staying out to show how difficult it is for them.”

William, who hails from Glasgow but moved to England about 20 years ago, ran Bailey’s Bar in Accrington from 1999 before selling it in 2007.

Before moving to England, William was in the Territorial Army part time however he was never deployed anywhere during his service, but knows many people who were called away, including some who served in the Falklands.

William has an online page for donations and has dropped sponsor forms at The Heys Inn in Oswaldtwistle and The Warners Arms in Accrington.

If you would like to sponsor William, the forms are still available at the two pubs.

So far, over 11,000 people have taken part nationally with over £150,000 having been raised to help the estimated 6,000 veterans that are experiencing homelessness in the UK right now.

The Royal British Legion Industries helps veterans with employment and careers, back to work support and help with housing.