A Keighley restaurant last weekend played host to one of the most popular singers in the world.

About 80 people gathered at the Balti House in Russell Street to greet Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Rahat, 26, is one of the world's leading exponents of the 1,000-year-old practice of Qawwali devotional singing. He took on the mantle of his uncle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who died three years ago and was adored by millions.

Rahat and his band stopped at the Balti House for a meal following a concert in Bradford as part of a European tour.

A delighted Mohammed Zamir, manager of the Balti House, says friends and relatives flocked to the restaurant to meet Rahat.

The visit came about because Rahat knows Mr Zamir's family in Pakistan, and attended his brother's wedding in the country.

Rahat's uncle, Nusrat, was instrumental in bringing Qawwali music to the attention of the West through work on Hollywood film soundtracks and with pop star Peter Gabriel.

Known as the "Pavarotti of Pakistan" and "The Shining Star", he was revered for both his passionate performances and religious devotion. Qawwali -- which translates as "belief" -- originated in the 10th century as the devotional music of the Muslim mystics of the Indian sub-continent.

While still used heavily for religious occasions, over the centuries it has evolved into a popular musical form for people of several south Asian faiths, and is used in "Bollywood" films.

Rahat was chosen at birth by his uncle to follow the centuries-old family tradition of Qawwali singing, and sang with Nusrat from the age of three.

He took over the family band after Nusrat died in 1997 at the age of 49, and has since appeared all over the world.