A NORTH-EAST cook has come third in a national competition to find the Curry Chef of the Year, but there have been protests at the outcome.

Mohammed Sultan, of the Massala restaurant, in Middlesbrough, lost out.

His boss, Shamal Biswas, said rules were broken during the final, staged during the BBC Good Food Show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.

He has lodged an official complaint with contest organisers, saying rules were breached, with competitors using ready-prepared sauces and origami-style pre-prepared presentation touches to the meal they were supposed to prepare from scratch.

Mr Biswas, a member of Middlesbrough Council, said: "We have been short-changed.

"It should have been fair and square. I think three or four other people have also complained.''

Mr Sultan went through to the national final after he won the North-East regional title with Chicken royale, a side dish of cooked vegetables and a chilli garlic rice.

He was one of eight national finalists to be given 60 minutes to prepare and serve a curry, a side dish and a bread or rice dish in front of a panel of judges and a live TV audience.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency, with the Chartered Institute of Environment Health, the co-organisers of the competition, said: "Mr Biswas raised some concerns at the competition. They were all fully investigated by a panel of six judges and one adjudicator. The allegations were taken to be unfounded.

"The winning chef fully complied with all the rules and regulations of the competition and the judges are fully satisfied with their decision.''

The winner, from Hertfordshire, won £3,000.