CHIPPENHAM MP Michelle Donelan has re-opened one of the town’s oldest Indian restaurants following a £100,000 refurbishment.

She helped Chippenham’s deputy mayor, Cllr Desna Allen, cut a ribbon to re-open the Akash Indian Tandoori Restaurant at Foghamshire near The Bridge.

The restaurant staged a grand re-opening today following a revamp that has taken seven months to complete.

The MP said: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to have been invited here today to share with you this grand re-opening. I can’t wait to come back myself as a customer.

“This business is really inspiring as it has been in Chippenham 40 years. It is small businesses like this that are at the heart of the town and the community.”

Cllr Allen added: “I used to come to this restaurant when it was a Chinese restaurant. It has been a wonderful business in Chippenham.”

The restaurant is owned and run by Nurul Islam, who launched it in 1979, and his younger brother, Nurul Huda Islam, 47.

They have introduced two younger members of the family, Ruhul Islam, 24, and Mosrur Ahmed, 24, to help run the restaurant, which will serve contemporary Indian cuisine and focus on its Indian grill.

The restaurant can seat up to 50 people. It employs family members and four staff.

Guests at today’s launch included members of Mr Islam’s extended family, many of whom travelled to Chippenham from London.