Bulldozer threat to top North-east restaurant

An award-winning restaurant in Northumberland faces being bulldozed to make room for a shopping centre to expand its car park.

The Lal Qila Tandoori and Balti restaurant in Cramlington was voted the best restaurant in the North of England by 2,000 readers of The Journal newspaper just a month ago.

But this may not be enough to stop the neighbouring shopping centre, which includes a Safeway supermarket, from winning planning permission to add 30 spaces to its car park by demolishing the Lal Qila.

Restaurant owner Awlad Miah has now gathered a petition of 1,200 names to try to stop the plans. He is also taking legal advice.

Miah rents the site for his restaurant from the owners of the shopping centre. He has run the restaurant since 1987.

He said: "I have worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week to build up this business. It means everything to me. I have a wife and three children and I don't know what I'll do if this place goes.

"I also employ 11 people and they will lose their jobs as well."