THE North-East has a new curry king after the culinary skills of a Middlesborough chef won him the regional final of a heated competition.

Chefs from the Massala Caf Indiyan in Middlesbrough, the Dhaka in Carlisle, and the Balti Cottage in East Boldon, South Tyneside, went head to head in the Northern final of the Curry Chef of the Year competition yesterday.

Each chef was given 45 minutes to produce a curry from his own kitchen, which was judged by a panel from Indian food company Patak's, and environmental health officers from the competitors' local council.

Iqbal Uddin, from the Middlesborough restaurant, spiced up proceedings with his chicken tikka bhuna, Indian vegetables and onion fried rice.

It is the second time Mr Uddin has won through to the national finals.

The competition attracted 570 entrants nationally and the grand final takes place in Harrogate on September 13.

Middlesborough Borough Council's environmental health officer Garry Weeks said: "He produced an absolutely wonderful curry.

"It was an adaptation of a traditional dish and he kept it quite simple and healthy."

Manager of the winning restaurant Sagid Hussain said: "We not really expect to win, but he is a very good chef."