FATBOY Slim has thrown his weight behind a mass “sleep-out” event.

The DJ, aka Norman Cook, has pledged the use of his cafe to those taking part in the Brighton Big Sleep-Out as well as his moral and financial support.

The event will see hundreds of people ditch their beds and brave the cold to sleep outside at Hove Lagoon for the night, all in a bid to raise money for the charity Sussex Homeless Support.

Volunteers will sleep in sleeping bags or cardboard boxes, with food stalls, tea and coffee available throughout the night.

Fatboy lives close by and owns the Big Beach Cafe at the lagoon.

There will also be a stage which will host a variety of performances during the evening.

Organisers hope more than 500 people will take part on December 7.

It is one of hundreds of events to be taking place on across the world that night as part of the World Big Sleep-Out, an international event which has received the backing of several big names including Will Smith, Dame Helen Mirren and Chris Martin.

A spokesman for the Brighton event said: “For one night, sponsored volunteers will sleep out in unison to create the world’s largest display of support for those experiencing homelessness and displacement.

“Prominent celebrities, musicians and an expected 50,000 people worldwide will be sleeping under the stars to help those who have no choice.

“They will be helping to raise life-saving monies to target 1,000,000 homeless and displaced in our area and throughout the world.”

Half the money raised through the event will be used by Sussex Homeless Support to support rough sleepers and people suffering from homelessness in the Brighton area.

The other half will be donated to charities internationally to help people who have been “displaced globally either through war, natural disasters, or extreme poverty”.

Volunteers can sign up to take part in the event on its website, bigsleepout.com.

Wish ward councillor Robert Nemeth, who is also the chairman of campaign group Friends of Hove Lagoon, also spoke in support of the event.