Bradford’s renowned curry chefs are hoping to cook up a storm as the city bids to retain its Curry Capital title for the third year running.

Public voting has now begun in the spicy annual contest – and with a record number of rival competitors hoping to snatch the title, locals are being urged to back Bradford.

Last year a quarter of a million foodie fans voted for their favourite city, with Bradford narrowly beating Glasgow and Wolverhampton to take the Curry Capital crown for the third time in the contest’s history, and for the second successive year running.

This year, Bradford faces competition from a record 20 areas hoping to claim the title as their own during National Curry Week in October.

Each participating city will be represented by four local restaurants, which will campaign to win over the judges.

Local councils will also be producing dossiers about the importance of their curry houses in the wider community.

The restaurants representing our district have been announced as Akbar’s in Thornbury, Omar Khan’s in Little Horton, Kipling’s in Greengates and Shimla Spice in Keighley.

Shimla Spice manager Faisal Hussain said Bradford deserved to retain its title. He said: “I’ve been up and down the country – London, Glasgow, Cardiff – and you never have a better meal than in Bradford.”

And Omar Khan’s manager Murtaza Riaz, known as Bobby, urged people to back Bradford in the public vote. He said: “The locals have tasted and tried everything. They know what’s in Bradford, they’ve probably travelled all over and know that what they get in Bradford they can’t get anywhere else.”

This year there will also be a new award, the Hungryhouse Top Takeaway award, for the best takeaway restaurant in the winning city.

Judges will take the results of the public vote and the councils’ dossiers into account when making their final decision, with the winning city announced on October 13.

To vote for Bradford, visit currycapitalofbritain.org.uk/vote.

e-mail: claire.armstrong@telegraphandargus.co.uk