It a regular Saturday night in Oxford.The Cowley Road was spilling over with drunken revellers and the city was awash with merriment. But in St Clement's Churchyard, around 50 people - including myself - were experiencing the grittier side of life for the 2007 Oxford Sleepout.

Welcoming the people prepared to brave temperatures below zero was the event's patron, Lord Mayor John Tanner, who paid £20 for the privilege of sleeping in his own bed.

He said: "Homelessness is the biggest crisis in Oxford and I want to thank everybody who is sleeping out or donating £20 for sleeping at home to help the homeless."

I arrived at the church feeling rather like the abominable snowman, dressed in thick trousers, a pair of thermal leggings, four tops, a windproof coat and a woolly hat.

At 9.15pm, a few people had already bedded down for the night. And after a couple of hours talking to my fellow sleepers I decided to find a spot.

Paired with my two sleeping bags (and some bin bags in case of emergency) I prepared for a sleepless night. As a veteran camper, I was used to being outside at night, but sleeping directly under the stars is altogether different.

And discomfort set in quickly. By 2.45am, cramps in my feet left me wishing I had brought extra socks. Drifting in and out of sleep was expected but what I dreaded most, rain, came at 4.30am.

My dilemma was whether to struggle out of my almost cosy nest and get into a bin bag, or hope it stopped. Fortunately, the cloud passed leaving just bitterly cold wind rifling through the churchyard.

Morning came and I had survived without a scratch. What little discomfort I had suffered was over and with it the likelihood of me ever having to experience it again. Except that it can happen to literally anyone. A sobering thought.

FELLOW SLEEPERS' VIEWS: "It's important to be humble once in a while and be grateful for what you've got. I got cold at about 5am and my sleeping bag split in the middle of the night, but apart from that it was good: - John Walsh, 24, of Southfield Road.

"We thought we could identify with vulnerable people and give support. In 2005, we visited the shelter with food and drinks and we thought this would be another way to help" - Dupe Adefala, 47, a pastor and accountant from Grove.

"It's a great way to raise awareness and money for winter comforts for our many homeless people. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and most people slept very well despite the high winds" - Jean Williams, 70, of North Oxford