Think of fundraising and it's likely that images of the London Marathon, Dry January and hikes across Britain will spring to mind.

But for two Liberal Democrat councillors in Ealing , orthodox methods weren't enough as they bore the brunt of freezing cold temperatures by being homeless for a night.

Councillor Gary Malcolm, who represents the Southfield ward, and Councillor Jon Ball, who represents Ealing Common, joined in the YMCA 's annual "Sleep Easy" event in Ealing Broadway on Friday (March 4).

Councillor Malcolm, who has so far raised £835, said: "It is always sad when people become homeless because of financial situations or family disagreements.

"The event, wonderfully organised by Ealing’s YMCA, has raised lots of money to help provide shelter to many young homeless people as well as raising awareness of their plight when homeless."

Temperatures dropped below zero as around 30 people used only their sleeping bags and a box for warmth between 8pm on Friday (March 4) and 6am on Saturday (March 5).

Councillor Malcolm was also given the top fundraising award by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Harbhajan Kaur Dheer.

Councillor Jon Ball, who raised around £300 after spending the night in a cardboard box

Councillor Ball, who raised around £390, was taking part in "Sleep Easy" for the fourth time but admits he still finds himself shocked by the conditions endured by homeless people.

He added: "It was very cold and it was below zero that night.

"It does help you understand more just how bad the problem is for people who have nowhere to sleep at night.

"Sleeping rough is always difficult. You feel very vulnerable and sleeping is rarely possible due to the threat of being attacked or the noise from traffic and lager louts.

"I didn't get much sleep, and you get to understand that homeless people are not just sleeping rough, they are also not getting much sleep.

"You wake up achy and still feel tired. I hope the money raised can help provide a safe place for many young people in Ealing."

You can donate to Councillor Malcolm's cause here and Councillor Ball's fundraising page here.