A CHARITY hopes to raise awareness of youth homelessness through a York art trail featuring works which all started out as cardboard boxes.

More than 40 artworks have been created by artists aged from 10 to 67 along the theme of 'Cardboard boxes are not for sleeping in.'

They range from paintings painted on cardboard to papier maché heads, sculptures, a tree house and a massive door.

The start of the trail will be hosted in the new community room at the Castle Museum, where it will be launched on Monday night with some of the works on display.

It will continue from Tuesday until June 5 with other works displayed in windows at According to McGee in Tower Street; Lock Fix Security and Coverdales Opticians in Walmgate; St Pauls Bookshop in Fossgate; Barnitts in Colliergate and Make Your Mark on Goodramgate.

Tina Firthlock, from the charity SASH, which supports homeless 16-25-year-olds in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire, said there was a strong association between homelessness and sleeping in cardboard boxes on the street.

She said: "We wanted to highlight the hidden problem of youth homelessness by emphasising that cardboard boxes can be used for many things, but sleeping should not be one of them.

"The response has been phenomenal – every single piece is so different, interesting and thought provoking.

"SASH is looking forward to sharing the art work via the trail and giving the public the chance to learn more about the difficulties and issues surrounding homelessness."

She said celebrity interior designer Linda Barker helped launch the competition on World Homeless Day last year and would be part of the judging panel to select the best works, with the winners being given York Museums Trust cards for the coming year.

A spokeswoman thanked the Castle Museum and art students from York St John University for their support with the project. She said people could apply for free tickets to the launch event and for more information, they should go to bit.ly/sashart.