AN attempt to prepare and cook the biggest curry in the world will take place in Rawtenstall town centre - and Bolton people are invited to share the aromatic experience. The event, on Sunday March 29, is to celebrate 27 years of Bangladeshi independence and raise money for the poorer areas of the country.

Bolton's Bangladeshi community will be among those lending their support - and sampling the finished food.

Between 11.30am and midnight, Mr Ali Alkas, executive chef at the Samrat Asian Cuisine Restaurant in Rawtenstall, plans to cater for an expected 10,000 people, cooking the curry in a single nine foot diameter pan.

The event will also include speeches from distinguished guests including Yeahyea Choudhury, Economics Minister and representative of the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson.

Police are expecting so many people to attend, they are to close roads around the town centre.

Mr Alkas visited Bangladesh in 1997 and saw the problems the country's people had to face.

A charge of £2.50 will be made to sample the "biggest curry in the world".

All money raised will go to education, housing and water supply projects in Bangladesh.

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