A scheme which raises thousands of pounds for the homeless faces collapse unless a new sponsor can be found.

StreetSmart supports Brighton and Hove's rough sleepers with the help of city restaurateurs and volunteers.

But Barclays Bank - sponsors for the last three years - has pulled out and organisers have until the end of May to find a replacement willing to pay £100,000 to run the national project later this year.

The bank's cash was used to cover administrative, production and promotion costs so all proceeds could go directly to homeless aid charities.

StreetSmart director Nick Emley, who started the initiative in 1997, said: "Barclays have been supporting us for three years and feel they want to look at other things now.

"I am hopeful we can find a new sponsor. If we don't, there will be no StreetSmart."

Some 22 restaurants in Brighton and Hove invited customers to donate £1 to StreetSmart on top of their bills last November and December.

Two had collection boxes and three gave donations.

The city raised £8,900 and in total £311,000 was made across 12 cities in Britain, compared to £260,000 the previous year.

Restaurants which took part included Blanch House, Momma Cherri's and Oki-Nami.

Charities who will benefit in Brighton and Hove are Stopover, Women's Refuge Project, Emmaus, Fareshare, Clocktower Sanctuary, Crossover, HALO, Anti-Freeze and Off The Fence.

Volunteers who helped raise the cash met this week to celebrate at Krakatoa restaurant in Pool Valley, Brighton.

Among them was Hayley Jarvis, 17, who paid tribute to the scheme, which has helped her since she was forced on to the streets after family rows.

She told how, for the past four months, she has been staying at the Stopover hostel for homeless women in Brighton, where she has received advice on finding a new home and turning her life around.

She said: "They have helped me mature a lot. I have my own space but we get lots of activities and educational support.

"Things like StreetSmart offer amazing help. Last week a group of us were taken bowling because of the scheme. It is all about helping you move on."

Mr Emley said he was not worried that Brighton's total contribution was lower than the previous year, when £12,000 was raised.

He said: "Given the economic and political climate this year, I am pleased with the results."

Deborah Newman, church liaison officer for the Clocktower Sanctuary, which provides warm food and clothes for those aged 16 to 25, said: "We really appreciate the support of StreetSmart."

The Clocktower Sanctuary will be given £900 to place part-time volunteers on accredited NVQ courses to improve their social work skills.

Michelle McDonald, owner of Krakatoa, said most diners were happy to pay a little more, knowing the money would help charities in Brighton.

She said: "Too often it's easy to think of homeless people as a nuisance, not realising what they suffer. This has brought people together to do something positive."