WOODMILL and St Columba's pupils who endured a night of sleeping in the rain to help eradicate homelessness have become the best fundraisers in Scotland.

S6 students from the two Dunfermline high schools joined together for the 2019 'Sleep in the Park' event and have raised an incredible £10,676 to become the top fundraising schools in the country as part of a national campaign.

In 2017 and 2018, St Columba's pupils gained the 'Top fundraisers' title, closely followed by their neighbours in second place – Woodmill!

Following the devastating fire at Woodmill in August, the S6 cohort has been hosted by St Columba's and it was decided this year the two schools would stand - and lie - shoulder to shoulder together in the 'World's Big Sleep Out'.

A group of 80 pupils slept out in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh on one of the wettest nights of the year on December 7.

RE teacher Ruairi Mulholland, of St Columba's, told the Press: "This was our third year taking part in Sleep in the Park.

"Social Bite organise this and cities from all over the world take part.

"Two years ago it was minus 9 degrees!

"Last year, I had a break but it seemed to be much milder.

"This year we had the bad weather again and I've never been so wet.

"I actually rung out the water in my sleeping bag the next morning even though I was in a bivvy bag!

"It took a couple of days just to warm up again and recover.

"But some people are out in that all the time so it's important that we raise awareness."

You can still donate to the team page at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=ColumbaAndWoodmill&isTeam=true