TOP restaurateurs selected to represent Bradford in this year's Curry Capital of Britain contest are urging the public to get behind them.

Earlier this month, four curry houses were chosen by public vote to represent the city as it attempts to retain the title for a record fifth consecutive year.

They were Akbar’s at Thornbury, Aakash in Cleckheaton, Kipling’s at Greengates and Shimla Spice in Keighley.

Now Faisal Hussain, of Shimla Spice, Shabhir Hussain, of Akbar's, Naseem Akhtar, of Aakash, and Mohammed Rafiq, of Kiplings, have got together to urge people to support Bradford in the contest's crucial public ballot.

Shimla Spice manager Faisal Hussain said: "Everyone knows Bradford is the curry capital, we've won four years running.

"We would encourage people to vote. I'm very confident that this year, like the last four years, people will vote."

Mr Hussain said he had recently opened a restaurant in Burnley, and had found that people on the other side of the Pennines knew all about Bradford's reputation as Britain's curry capital.

He said: "It's a big deal, it's huge. People in Lancashire know Bradford is the curry capital, so it's well known across the border."

People can vote for Bradford in the Curry Capital of Britain 2015 competition by visiting visitbradford.com/currycapital, by e-mailing vote@fedrest.com, or in person via the Visitor Information Centre in Broadway, Bradford.

Voting closes on September 25, with the winner announced on October 18.