A GROUP of Asian restaurants is offering East Lancashire curry-lovers a unique culinary experience.

And even if you don't know your chapatis from a chana dall or a bhaji from a bhuna, expert help will be on hand to guide you through the menus of the Indian sub-continent.

The Elite Asian Restaurant Group comprises six East Lancashire eateries which have been brought together under a Lancashire County Council-funded initiative.

The group has just produced a new brochure which is being distributed to tourist information centres and hotels throughout the county. It was launched by the Mayor of Rossendale, Coun David Hancock.

Ishwer Tailor, ethnic minority business advisor, said the objective was to provide a cultural as well as a culinary experience for diners.

"The Elite Restaurant Group aims to provide exceptional service to all customers," he said. "The six restaurants have been benchmarked to meet food hygiene requirements, quality of food and the ability of waiters to explain the exotic fayre on offer."

The six restaurants in the group are: Agra, Hapton; Mitali, Accrington; Samrat, Nila and Indian Harvest, Rawtenstall; Baltistan, Clayton-le-Moors.