A CHEF from North Yorkshire has been voted one of the best curry chefs in the UK at an awards in London.

Chef Mohammed Anwar Hussain, head chef at the Jaipur Spice at the Busby Stoop Inn, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire was one of 33 chefs to receive official recognition for their contribution to an industry worth more than £4.2bn a year.

Guests at the event included employment minister Esther McVey MP and renowned Asian MP Keith Vaz and former Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson MP.

The event was organised by Curry Life, an organisation set up to promote the curry industry and set up the benchmark to promote the best talented chefs.

“To win this title is the greatest vote of confidence I could wish for, not just for myself but for my team who work so hard to make things happen at the Jaipur Spice,” said chef Anwar Hussain.

“The award will inspire us to keep improving and I’d also like to thank all our customers for their help putting us on the map.”

Since the inn was taken over by Jaipur Spice, its owners have invested heavily in the venue and renovated the building.

The restaurant is situated in the famous Busby Stoop Inn, the home of a legendary chair, which is credited with being one of the most haunted items in the world. The chair was said to be cursed by Thomas Busby whose last request was to stop at the inn on his way to the gallows to be hanged for murder. The chair is now at Thirsk Museum.