AN award-winning Indian in Yarm has been named as one of Britain’s best.

Raj Bari, on the High Street, won Best South Asian restaurant in the North-East at the 2014 Asian Curry Awards.

The event was hosted by Sky News presenter Lukwesa Burak and held at the London Hilton Hotel on Sunday, November 16.

It seeks to recognise the achievements of restaurants across the county.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also spoke at the event, where he praised and encouraged the British curry industry.

Salim Siddique has been the chef and owner of Raj Bari since 1999.

He said: “We are really pleased we won the award. All of the cooking is different here. It is a family run restaurant and we make everything fresh, including our own spices.

"I am really grateful to all our customers and the other members of staff.

“I got to speak to Nick Clegg. He was very nice.”

It is not the first time Mr Siddique has won an award.

Last year the talented chef came third in the MPs’ Tiffin Cup, which is awarded to the best South Asian restaurant in the country, after being nominated by Stockton South’s MP, James Wharton.

He also travelled to India and was chosen as one of six master chefs to compete at the Taste of Britain Curry Festival in Kolkata.