A former Keighley man has bought a 25 per cent share in one of the best known and most popular restaurants in Leeds. Martin Pickles will take over the day to day running of the Flying Pizza at Roundhay and will eventually buy the entire business.

The deal will allow Adriano Piazz-aroli, who has worked at the restaurant since 1975 and owned it outright since 1984, to spend more time in his native Italy.

Mr Pickles, 45, a former pupil of St Anne's School, has spent the last two decades running wine bars in London, including the world famous Langan's Brasserie. During his time at Langan's he looked after big names like Rod Stewart, Sean Connery and Michael Caine, who also owned a stake in the restaurant. Caine once described Mr Pickles in a magazine interview as his favourite restaurant manager.

Mr Pickles also managed Shep-herd's in Westminster, the haunt of some of Britain's most powerful and high profile politicians.

He says he was delighted to be offered the chance to buy a share in the Flying Pizza, which over the last 27 years has built up a regular clientele of some of Yorkshire's most successful and best known business and sporting personalities.

"I have spent 24 years in London and now it is like coming home," he says. "I have quite a few cousins still living in Keighley. I have never lost contact with the area, and I am still a country member of Keighley RUFC."

Mr Pickles says he has no plans for major change at the Flying Pizza.

"There is an expression that 'if it ain't broke don't fix it.'