RESTAURANTS across East Lancashire are being urged to help African children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

They have been asked to take part in Lunch for Life in the week running up to Mothers' Day, March 21.

Last year, TV chef Paul Heathcote, who runs Simply Heathcote's in the Ribble Valley, joined Rick Stein, as well as Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray of the famous River Cafe, to take part in the scheme.

Lunch For Life will raise money for international children's charity Plan UK to go towards work with AIDS orphans across Africa.

Restaurants just add a pound to each table's bill and a card is provided to explain how Plan will make the money count.

Lunch for Life is also being backed by restaurant critics, including Fay Maschler, the Guardian's Matthew Fort and Matthew Norman of the Sunday Telegraph.

And this year organisers are urging even more establishments to get involved in the week before March 21.

Matthew Fort, who visited Kenya last year with Plan and saw first-hand the charity's work with ill youngsters, said: "A pound added on to a restaurant bill does not seem a lot to ask, and yet the difference that one pound can make to a family affected by HIV or AIDS is immeasurable."

Restaurants interested in taking part should contact Plan to register on 0207 482 9777 or alternatively e-mail sarah.courtenay@plan-international.org.uk.

The charity will send information about its work with AIDS orphans for their guests and details of how to make a donation.