BRADFORD’S bid to become Curry Capital of Britain for an unprecedented sixth year in a row has been submitted.

The city has won the contest a total of six times, with last year’s victory marking the fifth year in a row Bradford claimed the crown.

Evidence that the title should remain in the city has now been sent to judges in London, with a decision expected later this year.

The same four restaurants that helped keep the title in 2015 are on the team again this year – Akbar’s at Thornbury, Aakash in Cleckheaton, Kipling’s at Greengates and Shimla Spice in Keighley.

Tricia Tillotson, of Visit Bradford, said: “We’ve kept the bid very creative. Community cohesion is a very important part of the bid.

“For this bid you have four of the top restaurants working together for the bid, and sharing recipes. I don’t think you’d get that in many cities.”

Part of this year’s bid included working with the AFSA, Asian Fire Service Association, to talk with restaurants about fire safety issues. Akbar’s also recently donated food to one of the association’s events.

Earlier this month there was an indoor “garden party” held in City Hall to wow the judges.

And the bid also refers to the “curry garden” that was planted in Peel Park last year, where the public can pick herbs, which has been well-used since being set up.

Councillor Val Slater, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said that when it came to the national competition, Bradford was the equivalent of a “super Olympian”.

She added: “It would be brilliant to win it for the sixth time.

“We’re the Michael Phelps of the competition.

“Food has always been important to the fabric of Bradford, and there is a long tradition of Bradford being renowned for curry. We were the curry capital long before the competition started.”

Dill Fiaz Butt, of Akbar’s said: “By raising the bar year after year, all restaurants have to try harder, and that is great for the customers.

“Bradford’s curries have become almost a tourist attraction, you get a lot of people coming from around the country just to try the curry.”