AN award-winning Indian chef and restaurateur is to open a new business in Darwen.

Ibrahim Ali, owner of the Usha Group, has announced he will open an Indian takeaway in Blackburn Road, opposite the Co-op shop at Hollins Grove, on Wednesday.

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Mr Ali already owns the award-winning Usha in Burnley and Usha Express in Stacksteads and said he hoped to bring a different kind of Indian cuisine to the town.

He said: “Darwen is well known for its Indian restaurants.

“It has almost got its own curry mile going on in the town.

“It has great chefs and great curries, but they are all very traditional.

“We are trying to do something a bit different as we bring our fusion style of food to Darwen.

“Indian food can be bad for you but what we do is lighter and we are trying to do things a bit healthier.

“We are a bit different to the current offerings.”

Mr Ali said he started his career in Darwen when he was just a teenager and so felt an affinity to the town. He said: “I used to work at the Bilash, which used to be called the Honey Garden.

“That was my first job when I was 14 or 15 and that was my first experience of the industry.”

Mr Ali added the takeaway would create around five jobs initially.

Chairwoman of the Darwen Shop and Business Association (DSBA) Eileen Guy said she would welcome Mr Ali to the town.

She said: “Any business is good for the town, whether it is a takeaway or anything else.

“I think Darwen is bucking the trend at the moment and for an award-winning chef to be bringing a business to town is a coup.

“I welcome him and wish him all the best, and I would welcome him as a member of the DSBA, too.”

l Usha, in Rossendale Road, Burnley, opened in 2002 and has won a host of awards since then, including best north west restaurant in the Asian Curry Awards.