Asian and Italian cuisine have combined to turn Shipley's newest restaurant into a charity gold mine.

Bonno's Fine Italian Restaurant has opened on the site of the Aagrah Group of Restaurants' former premises on Westgate.

But every penny paid in rent to the Aagrah, which still owns the building, will be donated to charity in memory of its chairman Mohammed Sabir's disabled son Sajid Mahmood, who died in 1983.

And the gesture could eventually net British and overseas charities for blind and disabled children more than £180,000.

The Aagrah closed its Westgate branch in October, the night before its new, larger restaurant and headquarters opened on nearby Saltaire Road.

But it has now been let out - through the Bradford-based Ernest Wilson Business Transfer Agents - to Andrew and Orlane Bonswell, of Huddersfield. And following a £40,000 re-vamp they have re-opened the premises as Bonno's.

Mr Bonswell said: "The Aagrah's been very supportive and it's nice to know all that money - £15,000 a year - will be going to worthy causes. It's a unique and tremendous gesture on their part.''

Mr Bonswell added that they were hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Aagrah - which opened its first restaurant in Shipley in 1977 and is set to launch its eighth in January - by making the Westgate premises the first in a chain.

Speaking from Pakistan, Mr Sabir, 63, said: "Every penny we get in rent for the first five years will go to charity.

"We'll talk about it again then, but the lease is for 12 years and hopefully the money will continue to go to charity after that.

"I'm just delighted we're in a position to be able to do this to help look after people in need and keep my son's memory alive.''

Mr Sabir said despite the chain's need to expand, he could not bear to part with the Westgate premises - known as 'Sajid's Shop' - where business had boomed after his late son talked him out of selling it during his early days in business.

Sajid died in 1983, aged just nine, but ever since, the Aagrah has staged annual charity dinners in his memory which have generated more than £300,000 for worthy causes at home and abroad. Chefs Rory McCallum and Oriano Pedini are pictured outside the new Bonno's restaurant which will combine with the nearby Aagrah to help children's charities.