A KEIGHLEY restaurant is through to the finals of a national contest for South Asian cuisine.

Shimla Spice, in South Street, has reached the finals of the English Curry Awards in two different categories.

It is in line for the Best Indian Restaurant in Yorkshire. If it gains this accolade it could again pick up the prize for Best Indian Restaurant in England, which it won last year.

Shimla is also on the shortlist in the category for the Indian restaurant with the best marketing campaign.

The winners are due to be announced at a ceremony in Manchester on October 13.

Iftikhar Hussain, of Shimla Spice, said: "It is fantastic to be in the finals again. It's such a big event, it's like the Oscars for English curry.

"We'll give it our best shot, and even if manage best Indian restaurant in the Yorkshire region that would be good enough."

Commenting on the business's potential to win the award for marketing, he added: "We've got a good team here, and this is an area where we spend a lot of time and effort.

"We do a lot of work with the community and we sponsored [Keighley News editor] Richard Parker when he did the London Marathon."