The Aakash Restaurant looks set to reopen as another curry house, the agent for the sale has revealed.

The 860-seat restaurant, credited with putting Cleckheaton on the map, shut down last week after it was repossessed by the Bank of India.

Mohammed Tabassum, owner of The Aakash, was declared bankrupt at Bradford County Court on Friday, October 13.

Agent for the sale Javed Hussain, of Emirates Estates, Manchester, said the buyer - Sky Properties of Manchester - intended to reopen the building as an Indian restaurant.

Mr Hussain said the buyer was already in the restaurant trade.

He said: "We believe it is going to reopen very soon and we hope the new owners will have success in running the business.

"My sympathy goes out to the previous owner, because it can be seen that a considerable amount of time and expense has been put into the property.

"It is a magnificent building and we hope the people of Cleckheaton will enjoy visiting it under the new ownership."

Mr Tabassum opened "the world's biggest curry house" in a converted chapel in 2001 after a £1.75 million restoration project.

Its repossession was greeted with dismay by community leaders who paid tribute to Mr Tabassum.

A statement from the bank's solicitors said: "The property has been sold by the bank and it is understood the purchaser will continue to use the property as a restaurant."

Solicitor Sunil Mohindra, said "after protracted negotiations and detailed discussions over a number of months" Mr Tabassum voluntarily surrendered the property to his mortgagee, the Bank of India, on Thursday, October 12, 2006.

"The Bank of India has afforded full support to Mr Tabassum from the time he purchased the property until he gave up possession.

"The bank regrets that despite its support, Mr Tabassum was unable to continue his business."

Mr Mohindra was unable to disclose the name of the buyer or reveal the price paid.

A source close to the sale said contracts will be exchanged tomorrow and the completion date is October 30.

e-mail: newsdesk@bradford.newsquest.co.uk