Bradford restaurant owners have been invited to 11 Downing Street in recognition of their work helping to raise thousands of pounds for the homeless.

Organisers of the StreetSmart charity campaign have praised Bradford restaurants, and the people who use them, for supporting the scheme.

The campaign, which started in November, involves diners adding £1, or more if they wish, onto their restaurant bills.

Donations can be made at restaurants bearing the StreetSmart logo. The funds go to organisations providing immediate and long-term help for the homeless.

On Monday, Bradford's contribution will be recognised at a StreetSmart reception hosted by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, who is a supporter of the charity.

Bradford and Leeds StreetSmart co-ordinator Simon Dunn, Mohammed Tabassum, owner of the Aakash in Cleckheaton, and Thanos Dimou, owner of Bossa Nova in Shipley, have been invited to the reception, along with the Telegraph & Argus which has backed the campaign.

Simon, who is taking StreetSmart donations at his Little Germany caf bar, Yo Yo's, said: "It will be a great honour.

"The campaign is going really well in Bradford. Not everyone likes to give money to homeless people in the street and you don't always know where it's going. Adding a donation onto your restaurant bill is much simpler - and it eases the conscience while you're out enjoying yourself over a meal."

The StreetSmart campaign was launched in London in 1998, expanding to other cities across Britain. This year saw its debut in Yorkshire, and Bradford and Leeds were chosen to pilot the scheme. A total of nine restaurants in Bradford and two in Leeds signed up and so far more than £5,000 has been raised in four Bradford restaurants alone.

StreetSmart director Nick Emley said he was delighted with the support in Bradford.

"It's been fantastic," he said. "The restaurants have done really well and I've been terribly impressed by the support the T&A has given us from the word go. We are giving restaurants until the end of February, then we'll add up the total raised. When we know the total we'll decide which organisations will benefit."

This week a T&A reader from Saltaire, who wished to remain anonymous, sent a £100 cheque for StreetSmart. "I read about it and just wanted to help," he said.