UP TO 500 young people find themselves facing life on the streets in Blackburn with Darwen every year, a charity has claimed.

Now a cardboard city will be built in Blackburn town centre to highlight the plight of homeless youngsters who will be spending Christmas living rough.

Young people who use the Nightsafe charity, which helps 16 to 24-year-olds sleeping rough in East Lancashire are making a shelter made entirely of donated cardboard.

The annual project, built by people who use the charity, is intended as a fun way to raise money while highlighting the hundreds of homeless people who are forced to sleep under cardboard boxes over the festive period.

According to the Jubilee Street-based charity, around 500 homeless people would sleep rough in Blackburn and Darwen every year were it not for their efforts.

And Nightsafe housing team manager Linda Sharratt revealed that they were even having to turn young people away after a gradual rise in the number of youths who go to them for help.

She said the event, on December 16, was vital to raise enough money to give the youngsters the chance of a happier Christmas.

She added: "At this time of year the homeless tend to be forgotten.

"There is such a family focus but these youngsters don't have anyone.

"They have often left their parental homes or have no parental homes to go to.

"This is probably the hardest time of year for them.

"This mythical Christmas that we see on the television just does not exist for these people.

"For a start it is just so cold. One of the aims for the event is to run a street collection while we work.

"We are absolutely reliant on donations to keep the charity going.

"At Christmas the cash we collect is needed to put on a special Christmas dinner for anyone.

"On Boxing Day about 50 people in the area come along and enjoy the festive dinner most of us take for granted."

Nightsafe looks after people aged between 16 and 24, many of whom have left their parental homes and have nowhere else to go.

The charity, formed in 1990, runs a night shelter in Bridge Street, a day shelter called The Fusebox in Pilkington Street, Blackburn, a hostel in Preston Old Road, Blackburn, and 16 self-contained flats in Darwen.

Nightsafe is hoping to recruit more volunteer collectors for the event at King William Street, Blackburn on Friday December 16.

Anyone who can help can call Linda on 01254 587687.