FAMOUS TV chef Ken Hom visited "beautiful" Bradford today before he picked up a lifetime achievement award from the organisers of the city's World Curry Festival.

The accolade, given in recognition of Mr Hom's contribution to developing and promoting Asian cuisine, was presented at the two-week festival's closing event - An Audience with Ken Hom - last night.

Mr Hom said: "It is my first time in Bradford. I never knew it was so beautiful."

On the curry festival, he said: "I think anything that pushes awareness and gains a good public focus on cuisine is good. It opens up cultures.

"We should all sit down at a big table and eat together - eating each other's cuisines."

Mr Hom said he would try to return to the festival next year - diary permitting - to cook, and might even bring renowned Indian cook, Madhur Jaffrey, with him.

Curry festival organiser Zulfi Karim took Mr Hom to meet the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Geoff Reid.

Mr Karim said: "Ken Hom is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest authorities on Asian cooking and one of the best chefs in the world. He has been an inspiration to the World Curry Festival, and we are delighted to be honouring him with a lifetime achievement award."

Mr Hom said: "It is a real privilege to have been nominated for a lifetime achievement award by an organisation that prides itself on promoting Asian cuisine both here in the UK, and internationally."