A restaurateur who has helped to raise thousands of pounds for a homeless charity has been praised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Thanos Dimou, (pictured), owner of Bossa Nova in Shipley, travelled to Downing Street this week to a reception organised by the charity StreetSmart and hosted by Gordon Brown, a supporter of the scheme.

Bossa Nova is one of several restaurants in the Bradford district which has taken part in the campaign, under which diners added £1, or more if they wished, to their bills. The donations will go to organisations in the area providing help for the homeless.

The campaign, which ran over November and December - traditionally the busiest time of the year for restaurants - has been backed by the Telegraph & Argus. So far more than £5,000 has been raised in Bradford.

Mr Dimou said it had been a "great honour" to meet the Chancellor at Downing Street. "He shook my hand and said he was pleased with the success of the campaign," he said. "Both he and his wife Sarah were very pleasant. It was wonderful to be there."

At the reception Mr Dimou presented a cheque for £1,430, raised at Bossa Nova, to StreetSmart director Nick Emley.

"It has been very well supported at the restaurant," said Mr Dimou.

"Only seven people refused to donate anything and three people left a fiver each instead of just £1.

"It's a fantastic idea because it enables people to give money in a simple way, without handing it over on the street. I have asked Mr Emley if the campaign can be extended to October next year."

Mr Brown told the reception: "StreetSmart is a great idea - simple, straightforward and innovative - with all the money donated by diners going direct to local charities to help those who need it.

"Sarah and I are delighted to be associated with StreetSmart and to be able to congratulate everyone involved for giving the rest of us the chance to support the charity's valuable work in tackling homelessness."

Mr Emley said at least £300,000 had been raised by restaurants across Britain.

"The support in Bradford has been fantastic. The restaurants have done really well and I'm terribly impressed with the support the T&A has given us from the word go.

"Once we have added up the total amount at the end of February we will decide which organisations will benefit."