The chef at a Petersfield restaurant - one of the town's oldest independent businesses - has scooped a top award for his cooking.

Muhammed Alam from Paradise Balti Restaurant and Takeaway was presented with the accolade at a gala evening in the 02 Intercontinental Hotel in London.

Samuj Ali of the Causeway has owned and run the Paradise in Lavant Street for more than 30 years.

The restaurant joined award winners and 1,000 guests for an evening hosted by the Bangladesh Caterers Association and heard an online welcome from prime minister Boris Johnson.

His welcome was followed by a live speech from Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer, who praised the UK’s 600,000-strong Bangladeshi community for their efforts during the pandemic.

The caterers’ association has more than 1,200 member restaurants across the UK, and the chef from the Paradise was presented with the chef of the year award for the south-east region.

Mr Alam was one of just nine winners in the best-chef category from across England and Wales.