Event organiser Social Bite has donated £25,000 of the funds already accumulated to Bethany Christian Trust’s winter care shelter.

The charity said it hopes the extra cash will mean no one will have to be turned away from its shelters at church venues.

Sleep in the Park, which will be held in Edinburgh on December 9, has set a fundraising target of £4 million.

The sleep-out will involve around 9,000 people and will include performances from A-list “buskers” such as Liam Gallagher.

Cameron Black, from Bethany Chistian Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the support that Social Bite has given to the care shelter and the hope is we won’t have to turn anyone away this winter thanks to the additional funding.

“It is so very welcome in the context of the rising number of presentations over the last five winters in particular.

“The money will make a very real difference and we will have extra staff in place from the first week in December thanks to the donation.”

Funds raised by the sleep-out will ultimately go towards helping homeless people find permanent housing.

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “I would like to thank the incredible people who have signed up to take part in Sleep in the Park, who have raised almost £2m so far.

“It’s through their commitment that we’re able to make this early release of funds to Bethany today which will ensure no one has to sleep rough in Edinburgh all winter due to lack of capacity.”

He added: “Sleep in the Park is about bringing the people of Scotland together for one night to support a single cause.

“There is a beautiful symmetry between people from all walks of life sleeping rough for the night, while those less fortunate are able to seek warmth and shelter.”