Twenty-six restaurants have signed up to a campaign to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Under the Streetsmart scheme, £1 is added to diners bills at participating restaurants in Brighton and Hove and the proceeds are given to local charities.

Organisers Alison Ali and Ben Kypreous are hoping to raise at least £10,000 from the campaign, which is focusing on the homeless this year.

Ms Ali said homelessness in the city was already a serious problem and, with the threatened closure of places like St Patricks Trust Night Shelter and Brighton Womens Centre, the situation could get a lot worse.

She said: Thats why StreetSmart is more determined than ever this year to raise funds to help save these places.

Its not just St Pats and the Womens Centre that are struggling for funds, there are many worthwhile organisations working at the sharp end of homelessness in Brighton and Hove that are lurching from one funding crisis to another.

She listed the Clocktower Sanctuary for young homeless people and the Womens Refuge Centre, which provides emergency housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence, as also being short of vital funds.

She said: The chronic lack of secure central and local government funding makes it impossible for charities to commit to long-term plans, plans which are necessary to effectively tackle the complex issues in our society which cause so much homelessness.

The Seven Dials restaurant in Brighton has signed up for the campaign for the first time.

Owner Sam Metcalfe said: It has had a very positive response so far. Customers are happy to pay the extra pound as they know the money is going to a very worthwhile cause.

Amanda Powley and Philip Taylor of Terre a Terre have signed up to StreetSmart every year in the four years since its launch.

Mr Taylor said: We are happy to support such a worthwhile scheme.

Every penny donated by our customers goes directly to the local charities involved and we get a chance to meet the charities at the end of the year to find out how they are spending the money.

So we know the scheme really does make a difference to peoples lives.

Under the scheme, £1 will be added to each tables bill throughout November and December.

Ms Ali said: While in one sense, we would rather not have to exist, the fact that we have such solid support from restaurateurs and their customers is a testament to the community-spirit in our city.

Any restaurants who would like to join the scheme or businesses or individuals who would like to make a donation should call 01273 607485.

Diners who want to support the scheme or make a donation, can do so by trying the following restaurants:

Brighton
Blanch House, Atlingworth Street Coriander, Hove Street Estia, Hampton Place Indian Summer, East Street Momma Cherris, Little East Street Niche, Waterloo Street Nou Nou, St Georges Road Regency, Kings Road Seven Dials Restaurant, Buckingham Place Terre a Terre, East Street The Saint, St James Street The Strand, Little East Street The Tureen, Upper North Street Inside Out, Gloucester Road Kemp Brasserie, St Georges Road Mad Hatter Cafe, Montpelier Road Piccolo Restaurant, Ship Street The No Name Restaurant, St James Street The Tin Drum, St James Street The Tin Drum, Dyke Road Hove Bankers, Western Road Indian Summer, Kingsway The Real Eating Company, Western Road The Tin Drum, Second Avenue Elsewhere
Circa, High Street, Lewes The Jolly Sportsman, East Chiltington