FOR close to 20 years, Titu Ahad has been tickling tastebuds across Tynedale with his Indian cuisine.

And he continues to impress customers to his Saathi restaurant, on Priestpopple, in Hexham, after readers of the Hexham Courant recommended his business as the top place to get a curry across the district.

Followers of the Courant’s Facebook and Twitter accounts were asked to suggest their favourite place, and the reasons why.

Mr Ahad said: “I am absolutely happy and excited about the recommendations, and it just goes to show that hard work goes a long way.

“The time and effort my team and I have put in over the past 19 years are getting results, and it’s so good to serve the community I grew up in.

“It’s so good to hear from locals that it is their favourite restaurant.

“This is the motivation that keeps us going, knowing that people appreciate what we are doing.”

Facebook user Alan Donnelly said: “Saathi without a shadow of doubt.

“Excellent food, fantastic staff and, I ask you, who doesn’t like the always smartly dressed, lovely warm greeting you receive on your arrival by one of the nicest, most pleasant gentlemen who makes it a pleasure to go there?”

Saathi received the most recommendations, and was closely followed by fellow Hexham restaurant Zyka.

Next up was the Valley, in Corbridge, with Corbridge Tandoori and The Indus Valley, in Hexham, making up the top five.