AN Indian restaurant in East Lancashire has been named the best in the North West.

It comes just days after another restaurant in the same Ribble Valley road was crowned Gordon Ramsay’s favourite Chinese eatery in the country.

On Sunday Mohammad Ali, of Shajan Indian Restaurant in Clayton-le-Dale, was named ‘best caterer of the year’ by the Bangladesh Caterers' Association.

The evening at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel was hosted by Eastenders actor Nitin Ganatra, aka Masood Ahmed, and Daybreak presenter Tasmin Lucia Khan.

Mr Ali, 56, who is known as Shaju, said the award was an ‘amazing honour’.

It was the second year in succession he has won the prize.

He said: “People said we couldn’t win it two times on the trot but we did it and I am so happy. It is fantastic and I am over the moon.

Last week the Yu and You restaurant, also in Longsight Road, was praised on Channel 4’s Ramsay’s Best Restaurant.

Coun Doreen Taylor said the awards were great news for the local community.

She said: “Shajan is a excellent restaurant and the service is brilliant.

"The car park is always full and that tells you a lot.

“The two restaurants are doing very well and it is great news.”

Mr Ali has run the restaurant for 18 years along with his wife Shameem.

He said: “I have always focused on high quality control and that is the secret.”

The Shajan won at the 50th anniversary awards of the association, which represents 12,000 restaurants in the UK.

Click on the link below to read our review of the Shajan Indian Restaurant.