A VILLAGE Indian restaurant has been shortlisted as one of the best in North East Essex.

The Riverside Spice, in Earls Colne, is a finalist in one of the most coveted awards on the Indian restaurant scene, The Curry Life Awards.

Diners from across the country nominate their favourite chef and restaurants in the annual awards ceremony presented by Curry Life magazine in association with Just Eat.

Owner Abdul Hamid creates all the restaurant’s new dishes at home saying his love of curry and self- confessed fussiness over food means it has to pass his own exacting standards first Abdul said: “Business is good and I’m delighted people have shown that appreciation. I have one diner who makes an 80 mile round trip to eat here which is a compliment in itself. If my customers enjoy their meal I share that pleasure because making people happy is a good business to be in.”

This year’s glittering ceremony will be hosted by journalist and broadcaster Jon Snow, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel London, on October 22.

Curry Life magazine is acknowledged as the voice of the curry industry in Great Britain. It reaches thousands of curry houses and takeaways across Britain with a bi-monthly estimated readership of 100,000.