AN award winning Indian chef who has cooked for a former Prime Minister will help a Barnard Castle restaurant celebrate its first birthday.

Azam Khan is executive chef of two London Indian restaurants but will be spending an evening at The Bengal Merchant on The Bank on Tuesday, May 5.

Mr Khan cooked for Tory PM John Major at his 50th birthday party.

Mr Khan's awards include International Indian Chef 1993 and National Curry Chef of the Year in both 1997 and 1999.

His London restaurant has also received two Best of Britain awards by the real curry guide and the AA Best Indian Rosette for three years.

He has prepared a special menu that includes authentic Indian dishes such as Murgh Lahsuni Tikka, Malmali Shish Kebab and Goan Chingri Baza.

Mufti Choudhury, co-owner of The Bengal Merchant, said: "Azam has won loads of awards and for him to come up and cook in our restaurant is real privilege."

Tables will be available at 6.30pm and 8.30pm - to book call 01833-695857.