THE judges for the town's annual curry competition have been chosen. The lucky three are self-confessed curry experts Melvyn Blackman, Howard Taylor, the host of GWR's breakfast show, and Evening Advertiser reporter Bhavani Vadde.

They will be preparing their tastebuds to test the wares of 11 catering establishments.

For the first time this year, the competition, which is backed by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, has been opened to all commercial food outlets that can cook a curry, not just Indian and Asian restaurants.

There are 11 entrants this year including the canteen at the Zurich Advice Centre in Wanborough, Network Rail in the town centre, and last year's winner Curry Cottage in Rodbourne.

All the establishments have to pass a spot check to make sure they reach the required hygiene standards.

Entrants have to present a main dish, a side dish and a rice or bread dish for judging on the basis of appearance, aroma, texture and taste.

The four establishments with the highest combination of marks will go forward to a local cook off at Swindon College and compete for the chance to go through to the regional final.

Melvyn Blackman, 57, of Wootton Bassett, has conducted his own survey of Indian restaurants in Swindon. He said: "I will be looking to see if I can identify the individual flavours in each curry."

The official competition closing date has now passed, but establishments may still contact Eunice Salmon, Swindon Council's environmental health education officer on Swindon 466276.