The Cornish contingency of a national campaign has raised over £3,000 for local homelessness charities thanks to the generosity of the county's diners.

Ten of the region's top restaurants participated in the StreetSmart campaign by adding an optional £1 onto customer's bills during November and December of last year.

The restaurants involved in supporting the campaign across Cornwall were The Boathouse in Falmouth, The Square, Kota and Kota Kai in Porthleven, No.4 Peterville in St Agnes, Halsetown Inn near St Ives, Old School Bar and Kitchen in Mount Hawke, the Beach Club at Carbis Bay Hotel and Archie Browns in Truro and Penzance.

All administration costs are paid by national StreetSmart sponsor Deutsche Bank, ensuring that 100 per cent of the £3,000 raised in Cornwall, stays in Cornwall.

The money raised will now be split equally amongst the three nominated charities - St Petroc's Society, the Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust and Cornish branches of Foodbank.

Anna Eddy, owner of the The Square at Porthleven, said of StreetSmart: "It's a brilliant and simple initiative that helps charities close to home and is always well received by our customers. Through our staff's dedication and customers' generosity we can support those experiencing hardship in our local community, and we hope other restaurants follow suit by taking part."

National StreetSmart director Glenn Pougnet, said: "Since launching, StreetSmart has raised £7.9 million. We have helped homeless projects at a time when demands on them have increased significantly and funding from other sources has dried up, so I think our contribution has been important to keep some of those services going.

"Our campaign hopes to shed some light in a positive manner on the often misunderstood issue of homelessness and give people the opportunity to help within their own communities"

Approximately 40 people in Cornwall sleep on the streets or rough ground each night and with support from the generous diners throughout the county the money raised will make a vital difference.

The senior residential manager of Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust, who did not want to be named, is delighted with the funding that StreetSmart has secured. She said: "With this year's donation we hope to buy a new larder fridge and dining room table and eight chairs. Without your donation we would not have been in a position to buy these items, which will hopefully last us for many years to come. Being able to brighten the residents' surroundings is much appreciated by our families, who through no fault of their own have had to call this their temporary home."

James Milton, Southern England Foodbank network manager, added: "Foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network across Cornwall are delighted to be receiving generous help from local restaurants, thanks to StreetSmart. Help via StreetSmart and other generous donors is so appreciated as it enables foodbanks not just to meet their necessary operational costs, but to expand the ways that they can help members of their community get back onto their feet - and stay there."

Steve Ellis, chief executive of St Petroc's Society, said: "Last winter over 100 individuals had no alternative but to utilise the St Petroc's emergency winter services to avoid being on the streets. The donations made through StreetSmart are crucial to keep this service open and operational. The winter services are vital in providing a safe, warm environment to work with each individual to enable them to get off the streets."

For further information, or if you are interested in finding out about taking part this year, visit streetsmart.org.uk.