Movie star Ralph Brown joined a crowd of people sleeping rough to raise awareness of Brighton's homelessness problem.

The actor, who has appeared in Withnail And I and Star Wars The Phantom Menace, faced the cold conditions in Jubilee Square overnight on Friday.

He was with supporters of St John Ambulance's Sussex Homeless Services, which support people in Brighton and Hastings.

The group has warned homelessness is set to increase as the recession will lead to more house repossessions.

The service helped more than 2,000 people in Sussex last year, providing basic health care and helping with access to other services which are not available unless you can provide an address.

Tub Collins, chief executive of Sussex St John Ambulance, said: "We think there will be even greater demand for these services in the coming months. We need to prepare now in terms of making people aware of the service and funding it."

The Big Sleep Out event had a fundraising target of £5,000. To contribute go to www.justgiving.com/tubcollins.