BRADFORD'S World Curry Festival got under way with a black-tie dinner in the city last night.

Dignitaries including Welcome to Yorkshire's chief executive Sir Gary Verity helped kick-off the 2015 festival by tucking into dishes made by Pakistani singing chef Aamir Iqbal and Bradford-based Jinnah chef Zahir Khan.

Festival organiser Zulfi Karim said: "We had five amazing chefs cooking up a fantastic dinner."

The festival opens to the public tomorrow in Lister Park, Manningham, and, among the range of dishes available, there will be a special Crabbie's curry.

Crabbie's is one of the event sponsors and has teamed up with vegetarian restaurant Prashad to create a curry featuring Crabbie's Green Ginger Wine.

The curry, 'Crabbie’s Sabzi and Paneer Makni', is a creamy and tangy paneer curry. The recipe will be featured in the restaurant's Prashad At Home cookery book. Chefs from Prashad will be offering free cooking demonstrations on Sunday.

Crabbie's will have its own bus at the festival, and will also run a competition to win a curry-related trip to Glasgow.

Claire Kelly, of Crabbie's, said: "We're delighted to be sponsoring the World Curry Festival. The unique blend of real spiced ginger and exotic spices found in Crabbie’s compliments a whole host of curries. We look forward to seeing the festival goers enjoying our Crabbie’s range with some fine curry!"