CHEF Mohammed Sultan serves up a treat when it comes to curries.

At least, that is what judges choosing the Middlesbrough Curry Chef of the Year thought when they munched just a mouthful of his chicken royale.

They said Mohammed's chicken dish had just the right delicacy with its side dish of cooked vegetables - hariwali sabjee - served with a chilli garlic rice.

Mohammed, who works at the Massalla Restaurant, on Borough Road, Middlesbrough, beat five other shortlisted competitors to win the heat and now goes forward to the North-East regional competitions at Sunderland in October.

Sajid Hussain, also from the Massalla Restaurant, took second place with a tangy chicken dish and a sweet mango sauce - murghi aam tikka, channa aloo chat and sag puree.

Iqbal Uddin, chef at Iqbal's Balti Raj, on Marton Road, took third place with his sweet and creamy chicken tikka malayan, aloo gobi and a peshwari nan.

Each competitor had 60 minutes to cook a curry and complementary side dish with rice or bread, in a competition aimed at highlighting the importance of food safety and hygiene in the workplace.

Councillor Barry Coppinger, one of the judges, said: "I really enjoyed judging this event, especially having to taste 18 different dishes in two days. All the dishes were of a high quality with exceptional presentation.

"Middlesbrough is certainly a place to visit for a superb curry. I wish Mr Sultan the very best of luck when he represents Middlesbrough in the regional final.''