A RESTAURATEUR who regularly donates proceeds into a charity fund has given a £200 boost to a ‘worthy cause’ in Dorset.

Shahid Abdul, owner of The Balti House in Weymouth, has given money to support charities locally and overseas every day that his restaurants have been open for more than 30 years.

The family-run business donates proceeds from the first table of the evening – whether it is one person or a group party – to the fund, which supports an orphanage and other projects in Bangladesh as well as those closer to home.

Now Mr Abdul is backing the Show Them You Care campaign, which was launched by the Dorset Echo and Weldmar Hospicecare Trust earlier this year to help fund a specialist community nurse.

Mr Abdul started the donation scheme when he opened his first restaurant in Salisbury in 1973 and has continued it at restaurants in Poole, Bournemouth and now Weymouth.

The family also runs the Zafran restaurant in Bond Street.

Mr Abdul, 54, of Southill, said: “Every day we open the restaurants, the first table – whatever money is spent – goes to our charity fund.

“We’ve done a lot for charities in Bangladesh. We run an orphanage in Bangladesh for children up to the age of 16 and then support their education afterwards.

“We’ve helped housing projects and a farming missionary as well.

“We hold charity nights and recently raised £750 for Children in Need.

“We also like to support fundraising at Southill Primary School in Weymouth because my grandchildren used to go there.”

Mr Abdul added: “We’re giving £200 to the Show Them You Care campaign because we like to involve ourselves with local charities.

“As soon as we heard about this campaign we wanted to support the worthy cause.”

A second boost was given to the Show Them You Care campaign this week when Roy Child from Preston donated £50.

Mr Child, 84, said: “It is in appreciation of all the care and comfort Weldmar gives to all patients.

“My daughter used to work as an office assistant at the Weldmar office in Poundbury before she emigrated to Australia last year.

“We’ve always supported Weldmar, it’s one of the best things you can ever come across.”