Restaurateur Mohammed Aslam is celebrating his latest taste of success by expanding into East Yorkshire.

Mr Aslam, managing director of the Shipley-based Aagrah restaurant chain, wants to get the whole of Yorkshire covered.

He already has ten restaurants in West, North and South Yorkshire but says it's time to get into the East of the county.

"We've been in Yorkshire for 30 years now and we have to move forward," he said. "If we don't go anywhere it would be a backward step.

"East Yorkshire is next and then we can get out and go even further afield."

This week Mr Aslam has been visiting Hull, Beverley and Scarborough to look for his next site.

The Aagrah group was announced the winner of a top accolade at the British Curry Awards.

Mr Aslam was there to pick up the prize for Best Restaurant Group in the UK at the glittering black-tie ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel hosted by newsreader Alastair Stewart.

Aagrah was among a shortlist of 100 chosen from more than 2,800 nominated restaurants throughout the UK.

The awards rely on votes from the public and this year more than 20,000 nominations were made.

In 2005 the Aagrah's Shipley Grill & Carvery was awarded Best Restaurant in the North - this year it was shortlisted again.

"This latest award makes me feel even prouder of the group because it raises our profile - it's good for business and puts Shipley on the map," said Mr Aslam.

Earlier this year the Aagrah shut its first-ever restaurant in Westgate, Shipley, after the restaurant's newer Grill & Carvery in the town's Saltaire Road doubled its size.

Aagrah spokesman Richard Knill said: "It was our spiritual home so it was with reluctance it was shut but it simply was not needed once the grill and carvery got its extra 150 seats."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk