Businesswoman Priti Mistry is breaking with tradition to prove running a family business isn’t just a man’s world.

The 29-year-old, who is about to open her own sweet centre next to her family’s restaurant, says more Asian women should follow suit.

She believes she is possibly the only Asian woman in Bradford who has such an important hands-on role.

She was only nine when she started setting tables at the Bharat Restaurant in Great Horton Road and over the years she has got more and more involved – with her family’s blessing.

She said: “It’s not encouraged by most Asian families.

“They usually try to keep the women away from the restaurants but I think that’s outdated now.”

Priti buys produce for the kitchens, goes to the cash and carry, opens up the restaurant and works there until the early hours and it is all in a day’s work.

Soon she will be expanding the business by opening a new desserts cafe to complement the restaurant next door.

She said: “Dad has always given me a lot of responsibility.

“It’s all been about trust and I’ve appreciated that. I have always done my best to make the restaurant a success and I want it to go on to bigger and better things. I’d like to see us open more restaurants.

“It is unusual for an Asian woman to do what I do but there should be more like me now.

“We have to move with the times. I’d like to think other women might be inspired.”

Earlier this month she hosted a charity night at Bharat which raised more than £200 for an Indian orphanage.

She said: “We got such a lot of support from our customers.

“A lot of them I’ve known since I was a little girl, they’re more like family now but of course it’s always good to welcome new faces.”