LEADING local restaurants and The Oxford Times this week launched the 2006 StreetSmart appeal to raise thousands of pounds for Oxford homeless charities in the run-up to Christmas.

Last winter, 31 restaurants helped us raise £30,000, with the money shared between eight local homeless charities.

The total set a new record for Oxford, with local diners making Oxford once again the biggest contributor to the national StreetSmart appeal outside London.

The money is raised through restaurants adding £1 to the bill of diners between now and the New Year.

This year Marks & Spencer will be joining The Oxford Times as the sponsors of the campaign in Oxfordshire.

The 2006 campaign was launched at Quod in the High Street, where local co-ordinator Ginny Battcock announced that 25 restaurants have so far signed up.

She welcomed newcomers to the StreetSmart fold, including the Living Room, at Oxford Castle. Both Oxford Brookes University restaurants - in Gipsy Lane and Brookes on the Park, on Milton Park, will be involved this year.

The launch was hosted by Jeremy Mogford, owner of Quod, which was last year's most successful fundraiser for StreetSmart in the county, collecting more than £5,000.

Mr Mogford said: "We never had a single refusal. Our customers like the concept of being able to help the homeless by donating a pound after enjoying lunch or dinner."

Glenn Pougnet, StreetSmart's national director, said: "StreetSmart is now in its sixth year and it has raised a substantial amount of money for homeless charities in Oxfordshire. Marks & Spencer are covering all the administration costs, which means every penny raised will help the local homeless."

Any restaurants wishing to support the appeal should contact Ginny Battcock on 01865 557944 or go to the website www.streetsmart.org.uk

Last year Oxford finished well ahead of Leeds and Edinburgh, the two next biggest fundraisers, which each raised about £17,000, with Brighton restaurants collecting £9,000 and Cambridge £3,500.

Nationally StreetSmart raised a record sum of £430,000 in 15 cities, with support from 462 different restaurateurs.

The charities to benefit included Aspire, Oxfordshire, which runs gardening and landscaping projects, with training for homeless people; The Porch Steppin Stone Centre, the day centre, based in Cowley; Oxford Night Shelter (£4,000); English Churches Housing Group; and the Gap, a day service mainly for 16 to 25-year-olds.

PARTICIPATING EATERIES

In the city: Brookes Restaurant (01865 483803); Cherwell Boathouse (01865 552746); Chiang Mai Kitchen (01865 202233); CIBO (01865 292321); Freud cafe and bar (01865 311171); Gee's (01865 553540); Jamal's Tandoori Restaurant (01865 310102); Brasserie Blanc (01865 510999); Loch Fyne (01865 292510); QI (01865 261501); Quod (01865 202505); Rose and Crown (01865 510551); Saffron (01865 512211); The Living Room (08701 662223); The Nosebag (01865 721033); The Old Parsonage (01865 310210); The Rose (01865 244429); Xian (01865 554239).

Around the county: Brookes on the Park, at Milton Park (01235 834934); Sir Charles Napier, in Chinnor (01494 483011); The Chequers Pub, in Chipping Norton (01608 644717); The Chinnor Indian Cuisine, in Chinnor (01844 354843); The Fox Hotel, in Chipping Norton (01608 642658); The King's Head Inn, in Bledington (01608 658365); The Navy Oak Restaurant, Leafield (01993 878496).