A restaurant owner in Tenterden who has been finessing Indian dishes for almost 40 years has been recognised with a lifetime achievement award at the Euro Asia Curry Awards.

Abdul Kalam Azad Suton, who runs Badsha Indian Cuisine, was honoured with the trophy, while his restaurant scooped the award for best in Kent.

The restaurant in West Cross was selected as participants for the award at the beginning of the year but on November 15, Mr Suton was surprised with the lifetime achievement accolade, the first ever in the award's six year history, at a prestigious ceremony in London.

Mr Suton, 62, said: "I have been in this industry close to 40 years and for the first time they gave me a lifetime achievement award which was an honour for me.

"I was so happy, everybody comes to the town to congratulate me and I'm so honoured.

"We won the best restaurant in Kent and we got a trophy for that too.

"I really love it here in Tenterden."

The Euro Asia Curry Awards is an annual ceremony dedicated to celebrating the success of the curry industry and the people behind it.

The trophies are now proudly on display at the curry house.

Mr Suton started his first business, Shapla Tandoori, in East Grinstead in 1985.

From there, he managed to build his reputation in the industry and eventually opened Badsha Indian Cuisine, his second business, the following year.

He also opened Azad Restaurant in 2000, also in East Grinstead, however his sole focus is now his restaurant in Tenterden.

After decades in the industry, Mr Suton is now the president of the Kent region at the Bangladesh Catering Association.

Through lockdown, the dining room at Badsha underwent huge renovations including the installing of mood-lighting and a fire giving the site in the Grade II listed building a new look.