REPORTS that the nation's favourite dish -- chicken tikka massala -- may soon be removed from menus appear to be unfounded in Bolton's Indian restaurants.

A spate of prosecutions nationwide by trading standards officers prompted fears that owners may soon be too scared to continue serving the dish.

The action came after research by 25 local authorities found that 11 per cent of sauce samples taken from a variety of restaurants and take-aways were in excess of the permitted levels of food colourings.

It is thought that repeated over-exposure to artificial colours can lead to increased sensitivity to allergies and long-term problems such as asthma.

But in Bolton there have been no prosecutions and Food Standards Agency officials are confident that the town's diners are perfectly safe.

A spokesman said: "As part of our continual food hygiene inspections, we look at menus, monitor how recipes are planned and are confident permitted limits are not exceeded."

And Alom Mahbub, owner of Moghuls Palace on St George's Street, Bolton, says restaurateurs are always aware of the standards. He said: "We use very little food colouring in our tikka masala anyway but all our food is cooked to the very highest of standards."