A CHEF from Leigh is bidding to become the country's top Indian Cook.

Sunil Menon, who works at the world-famous Patak's Food factory in Leigh, is one of eight finalists in the annual International Indian Chef of the Year competition.

Mr Menon, aged 32, beat off competition from 5,000 entrants from across the country to reach the final.

He is now looking forward to creating a mouth-watering Indian menu to scoop the coveted prize.

Mr Menon, Patak's Indian Development Chef, said: "I am really looking forward to the final and doing my best to win but I am keeping my menu a secret until the big day."

A chef from the north of Scotland and a Thai woman are among the other finalists who will battle it out in next month's glittering final in Edinburgh.

Mr Menon, from Lowton, learnt his trade working with the Taj Hotel chain in India.

Company owner Meena Patak spotted Mr Menon in India and invited him over to head the company's Indian development department.

He moved over to England with his wife a year ago.

The contest, in its 11th year, is run by celebrity chef Tommy Miah, aged 42, an entrepreneur who came to England from Bangladesh when he was 10. After moving to Edinburgh from Birmingham he started a successful Indian restaurant business and now runs an Indian-theme hotel in the city.

He began the competition in 1991 to "promote innovation and quality in Indian cuisine".

The contest is open to anyone around the world, male or female, amateur or professional and the winner will be announced at a Curry Ball in Edinburgh on February 22, after the finalists have created their dishes.

Cherie Booth -- barrister and wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair will officially open Patak's Foods new food processing factory in Kiribati Way, Leigh, on Friday. She will tour the factory with invited guests and enjoy an Indian buffet.