A SHANTY town appeared over the weekend at a school as pupils slept rough to raise money for those in real slums. With only lentils, rice and cold water to keep them going, the 40 pupils from Hitchin Boys , Girls , and Priory Schools braved the snow in m

A SHANTY town appeared over the weekend at a school as pupils slept rough to raise money for those in real slums.

With only lentils, rice and cold water to keep them going, the 40 pupils from Hitchin Boys', Girls', and Priory Schools braved the snow in makeshift tents made from pallets, cardboard and tarpaulin to experience how a sixth of the world's population live every day.

Camped out in the grounds of Hitchin Boys' School for 48 hours, the pupils were also denied everyday luxuries such as mobile phones, iPods and a change of clothes.

Hitchin church action groups The Forum and PHASE hosted the event as part of a national Slum Survivor weekend to raise money for charity Soul Action, which supports projects aimed at alleviating poverty in South Africa, Zimbabwe and around the world.

PHASE director Kieran Murphy said: "The young people found it a challenge but it showed them how very different lives can be from what we are used to and what a fantastic life we have while others don't.

"We would like to thank Hitchin Boys' School for their grounds and Brookers who supplied the building materials."

The event raised around £1,000.