VINDALOO veteran Sher Mohammed is the area's longest serving curry chef -- bar naan!

Mr Mohammed is still cooking up the curries at his "Khyber Cafe" at the grand age of 70 and has no plans to hang up his apron.

The poppadom pensioner opened up the Blackburn's very first curry house at Whalley Range in 1966.

And 34 years on the Khyber Restaurant and Takeaway -- known as the Khyber Cafe to its fans -- is still going strong in the same building and is one of the most popular eateries for miles around.

Mr Mohammed's nephew Mazar Hussain said: "He's been here nearly 35 years and is very well-known in Blackburn. He is still the chef and owner of the cafe and specialises in cooking curries for the western taste.

"The place is packed out every Friday and Saturday and even though the family work with him he is still there cooking the curries."

Mr Mohammed, who has four children and three grandchildren, moved from Birmingham to Lancashire in 1959.

But he never dreamed that his Blackburn restaurant would still be going strong nearly 35 years after it opened.

He said: "I have been very happy here. I have met some fantastic people from all over Blackburn, Great Harwood, Rishton and Darwen, who all come into the cafe.

"I love my work but I only work part-time now. I enjoy meeting the customers, they are my friends, and if I didn't work I wouldn't see them -- I would really miss them."