THE finalists for the prestigious Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Awards, recognising achievement by Asian people across the UK, have been announced.

And they include the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's own Shuiab Khan.

Shuiab, who is also editor of Asian Image newspaper, has been nominated for an award in the media and arts section alongside Sunrise radio boss Usha Parmar, Granada TV presenter So Rahman, and Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati.

The awards identify some of the most prominent and successful Asian people in the country.

Other nominees include Vali Patel, the chairman of Lancashire County Council; and Khalid Saifullah, the chairman of Lancashire Asian Business Federation.

The Northern Asian Jewel Awards final takes place in Manchester on February 7.

Last year's Asian Jewel Awards received more than 300,000 nominations. Past finalists have included Karan Bilimoria, chief executive of Cobra Beer; ballet dancer Nandita Shankardass; and star of the BBC's hit series Meet the Kumars at No. 42, actress Meera Syal MBE.