Bradford's MPs are keeping tight-lipped over their favourite South Asian restaurants as the search to find the country's top spot hots up.

With claims Bradford is the curry capital of the world, five MPs are leaving it up to constituents to decide which restaurant tops the table.

The search is part of a competition run in Westminster which invites MPs to nominate their favourite curry house for a mouth-watering showdown to fight for the title of the country's best.

Earlier this year The Aagrah in Shipley made it through to the finals after being nominated by the town's Conservative MP Philip Davies. This year, people are needed to vote for a restaurant which falls in the boundaries of their local MP.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, who admits being partial to a curry, said: "We have great restaurants in Bradford but I will leave it up to readers to vote - I visit many. Bradford certainly is the place to go if you want a curry."

Keighley MP Ann Cryer also boasts an impressive record of visits to the restaurants and was hard-pressed to pick her favourite.

She said: "When I have a curry in London it is just not the same, Bradford is definitely the place to have one so let's see which one in my constituency is nominated. Competitions like this encourage diversity."

Mrs Cryer said the competition was an "excellent" example of East meeting West, and communities coming together. She said: "There is a high calibre of South Asian food in Bradford and this competition highlights the importance of the food as part of a multicultural society."

And although Bradford North MP Terry Rooney does not eat curry, he said Bradfordians believed they had the best curry houses in Britain, and thought it would be an "interesting exercise" to see if the nation shared the view.

While many MPs were playing their cards close to their chest over which restaurant they would nominate, Mr Davies openly said the Shipley-based Aagrah was the creme de la creme of Indian restaurants."

He said: "I could not believe they did not win last year - the food is amazing."

It will be the second year the All Parliamentarian Tiffin Club has run the event, which also raises money for charity.

This year's event held in May saw celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and food connoisseur Loyd Grossman spice things up as two of the judging panel who decided the title.

HOW TO VOTE

T&A readers have until Wednesday, November 22 to get their entries in to the MPs. Envelopes should be labelled Tiffin Cup Competition. They should write to their MPs constituency offices at:

  • Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, 3rd floor, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford, BD1 1SZ
  • Bradford West MP Marsha Singh, 2nd Floor, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford BD11SZ
  • Bradford North MP Terry Rooney, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD11SZ
  • Keighley MP Ann Cryer, Bob Cryer House, 35 Devonshire Street, Keighley, BD212BH
  • Shipley MP Philip Davies, Shipley Conservatives Association, 76 Otley Road, Shipley, BD18 3SA