GENEROUS diners at a hotel in a Cotswold town have helped owners raise thousands of pounds for charity. 

The White Hart Royal in Moreton is one of 35 hotels owned by The Coaching Inn Group that combined have raised almost £8,000 for Hospitality Action.

The money is raised entirely through portions of invisible chips bought by diners who instead of receiving food are actually donating £2 to the charity.

The charity supports anyone working in the hotels and catering industry in their time of need.

The Group, which has grown in recent years, now owns 35 hotels and inns in market towns right across the country and this year’s invisible chips donations made by big-hearted diners totalled £7,390.

Bill Ramsay, general manager of The White Hart Royal Hotel said: "I am extremely proud and continuously taken aback by the enormous generosity of our customers. 

"It's been an ongoing campaign from The Coaching Inn Group for years and all the donations go to an amazing cause. 

"Lots of people come into The White Hart curious and intrigued and ask what's that? 

"When they find out about the invisible chips they always say that it's a great idea and lots of people support it and are very happy to participate.

"We have a very loyal base of guests and many of them return again and again because we are a Cotswold destination and it is a fabulous place to stay and visit."

Founded back in 1837 the charity offers time of need support to all those whether working in hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, schools, hospitals, or event venues.

Chief operating officer at The Coaching Inn Group, Adam Charity, said: "The group’s whole ethos was based around providing ‘hospitality from the heart’ for all the market town communities it served.

“So, thanks to our core base of generous hearted community customers and our many hotel guests we have now been able to donate more than £35,000 to Hospitality Action over the past four years."