AN Indian restaurant in Worcester has won a prestigious award for its food.

Staff from Balti Mahal, in Astwood Road, were delighted to hear they were selected as one of the winners of the Good Food Award.

The award is based on the Indian takeaway restaurant's performance, hygiene rating, customer reviews and their contribution to the community.

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Manager Mazedul Hasan Shakil said: “I am so chuffed.

“We feel so honoured and privileged to have such recognition for our efforts and serving our community great food.”

The restaurant hosted the Hottest Curry Challenge during lockdown where all the money was donated to the NHS.

Balti Mahal invited curry lovers in the city to order a special curry made for the challenge, which saw contestants attempt to eat it for a chance of being crowned “Hottest Curry Eater Champion”.

Mr Hasan Shakil also said he’s given his members of staff a ‘thank you bonus’ for all their efforts during the coronavirus.

He added: “We won because we stepped up and served our local community during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We took additional measures to ensure we were Covid -secure before the Government announced guidance on it 0 such as pre-entry temperature checks, and providing PPE to our members of staff.

“We did our bit to fight the pandemic by taking these measures, it not only helped us but the whole community.

“This award means we are recognised as the best restaurant by the Good Food Award and we will get their support for the 2021 period.”

He added: “Business has been good, it has been hard with the lockdown, not being able to have more people in, but we did well, and our community looked after us.”

The winners were hand-picked to join the respected independent awards scheme.