Businesses and restaurants are joining forces for an innovative scheme to help homeless people in Brighton and Hove at Christmas.

More than 30 eateries and local firms have signed up to take part in StreetSmart.

This is the third year the city has taken part in the scheme, in which diners are asked to donate £1 on top of their final bill for charity.

Last year, £9,070 was raised for local homeless projects. This year organisers are predicting even more success.

Organisations which benefited from StreetSmart last year included Emmaus, Stopover, Anti-Freeze and Off the Fence, Fairshare, Halo, Crossover, Clock Tower Sanctuary and the Women's Refuge Project.

Every pound donated goes to the local charities with the costs covered by international financial information group Bloomberg.

The city's 2003 scheme was launched yesterday at one of the participating restaurants, Terre a Terre in East Street, Brighton.

This year there are 28 restaurants participating and six other food outlets, businesses and organisations making donations.

Organisers Alison Ali and Ben Kypreos said: "It's going from strength to strength here. This is a bumper year for us.

"There's a real community of restaurants and businesses behind it and we hope it will continue to grow."

Chef Nick Lang and his wife Kuldip Kaur run La Marinade in St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton.

This year will be the first year they have taken part in StreetSmart.

Mr Lang, who has travelled all over the world with his work, said: "There are even homeless people in Hove and you can't help but be moved by it.

"There was a man outside the Co-op in Hove who had been threatened and told to move on from his spot and he was crying. He was a grown man. It was so upsetting."

Kim Morrison and her business partner, Steve Smith, opened Niche in Waterloo Street, Hove, two months ago.

They previously worked in the wealthy Berkshire towns of Twyford and Windsor.

Kim said: "We were quite surprised that the problem was so obvious here. We weren't expecting the level of people on the streets so we're glad we are able to help solve the problem."

Steve said: "It's an excellent idea of channelling the money through restaurants."

Mohammed Asad, of the Goa Spice of Life in Richmond Parade, Brighton, is getting involved for the second year.

He said: "I see people on the streets in Brighton, sometimes outside my restaurant and I wanted to help them in some way. These people haven't got homes and they are begging and this is a good way to help them."

Some businesses are donating money or services in another way.

The Brighton Institute of Modern Music is holding a concert in December to raise money.

Matrix Mobiles is planning to donate mobile phone handsets to people who work with the homeless when companies contact them asking for a telecommunications review.

Stephen Kennedy, of Matrix Mobiles, said: "This seems a good way to help out because the phones go directly to the outreach workers."

Companies wanting a review, and therefore helping the homeless in the city, can visit the web site www.matrix-mobiles.co.uk or telephone 01273 727779.

Alison said: "We also want to thank those restaurants who have been with this for the three years, providing the backbone to the scheme, including Terre a Terre, The Strand, Momma Cherri's, Krakatoa, Coriander, Blanch House and The George."

Monday November 03, 2003