THE owner of a Leytonstone restaurant has spoken of his delight at winning the Guardian's Indian Restaurant of the Year award.

Shah Ahmed, proprietor of the Star of India, in Leytonstone High Road, said: "We're excited about winning and extremely grateful to our customers.

"We're very happy to win such a local competition - it's a seal of approval."

The Star of India joins the Epping Tandoori and Woodford Green's Spice on the Green as winners in the Indian restaurant category.

Thousands of Guardian readers voted online and by post over the last few weeks.