Local News: Restaurant curries favour with MP club

AN Indian restaurant in South Queensferry has been highly commended in the Tiffin Cup.

Queen's Spice was recognised in the competition to find the best South Asian restaurant in the UK, run by the Tiffin Club.

The club is a cross-party group of MPs, which invites members to nominate restaurants in their constituencies.

Finalists take part in a cook-off at the House of Commons, judged by celebrities including Ainsley Harriott and Hardeep Singh Kholi.

Slimming help in store

TWO Lothians supermarkets have helped shoppers stick to their New Year's resolutions.

Asda stores at the Jewel and Livingston teamed up with Scottish Slimmers to encourage people to join a mass "weigh in" on Sunday. Jewel manager John McGovern said: "Keeping a resolution isn't always easy."

Making time to celebrate gift of rhyme

THE launch of the new collection by poet Walter Perrie, Tales & Lyrics In Twa Tongues, will be celebrated at an event in Edinburgh.

It will take place at Blackwell's Bookshop on February 2 at 6.30pm.

Mr Perrie, a former Edinburgh University student, has worked as an editor, poet, critic and travel writer since the 1970s.

Tickets, which are free, are available from the bookshop.

Step up and join the Leith Walk

Walking group The Leith Walk will meet this Sunday. The group meets at 11am at the Foot of Leith Walk, and will complete a gentle six-mile walk up Easter Road and round Arthur's Seat. For more information, contact Dave Poyner on 07714-284 756 or [email protected].

Nominations open for Provost's fair trade prize

RESIDENTS across the city are being urged to nominate their favourite fair trade business, community organisation, school or individual for the Edinburgh Lord Provost Fair Trade Awards.

Nominations can be currently made by filling in the online form on the city council's website.

The closing date for entries is February 18.

People who make a nomination will have the chance of winning a Scotmid fair trade hamper.

Education debate in city

EDUCATION Secretary Michael Russell was today set to host the first of five discussions on the higher education Green Paper at Heriot-Watt University.

The focus of the discussion was expected to be on funding and structures, with around 100 representatives from the sector set to attend.