A DARWEN Indian restaurant is in the finals of a Parliamentary competition to find the best curry house in Britain.

Sukhi's in Blackburn Road has been nominated for the Tiffin Award by MP Janet Anderson.

And she hopes her favourite Indian restaurant will win the top prize when the finalists come to the House of Parliament for a cook-off in May.

The Tiffin Cup is a new competition organised by three MPs in which all members nominate their favourite Indian eaterie, and Mrs Anderson had no hesitation in putting forward Sukhi's which she visits every other week. Last year she got Sukhi's Indian lager introduced as the guest beer in the Commons main MPs bar, Strangers.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted Sukhi's has made the final. It is an excellent Indian restaurant. It is my favourite.

"I hope they cook chicken tikka jalfrezi for the judges. It is an excellent dish and my favourite. It is a prestigious award and they would thoroughly deserve it."

Suqhi Gohel, 56, and his son Reshmi, 28, have owned the busy restaurant for five years. During that time they have received a Gold Award from Quality Food On-line and been nominated for the best chicken tikka massala on The Nation's Favourite Food Award BBC documentary.

And Reshmi admitted he couldn't wait for the final. He said: "I'm over-the-moon we've reached the final.

"We're just going to sit tight, not get too excited or carried away, and see how it goes."