Witton Country Park will play host to the Shelter Colour Run this week, where participants can run, walk, dance or jog covered in bursts of paint.

Runners can enjoy a family fun day out on Sunday, September 8, but also by participating and getting sponsorship attendees are supporting Shelter’s vital work in defending the right to stay at home.

The event is open to participants of all ages and promises a great time for all who want to get involved and help support the charity.

Entry costs £8 per person and every participant receives a free Shelter t-shirt, Shelter Colour Run medal and water bottle.

Lindsay Tilston Jones, head of community fundraising at Shelter, said: “Decades of failure to build enough social homes combined with runaway rents and rising evictions has caused homelessness in the North West to spiral.

“Too many children are being forced to grow up homeless in grotty, cramped hostels and B&Bs, sharing beds with their siblings, with no place to play or do their homework.

“At Shelter, we’re doing all we can to support as many people as possible in these tough times.

“With so many people needing our support, we really need the public’s help.

“By coming along to this fun family day out, you can help us continue to be there for people who don’t have anywhere safe to call home.” 

The number of children who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families has skyrocketed to 151,630 – a 15 per cent increase on last year’s figure and the highest figure since 2004.

Last year participants raised more than £,1500, with the Kissock girls fundraising £610 for the charity.

Shelter Lancashire has a community hub on the ground floor of Blackburn Central Library and housing rights workers and legal teams based across Lancashire in Blackpool, Burnley and Preston.