SWINDON'S answer to Masterchef but with masala is underway.

Four ethnic food experts are touring 11 of the borough's 34 curry restaurants to decide which one will be crowned curry house of the year 2002.

The odyssey began on Thursday night with trips to Purton, Wootton Bassett and Abbey Meads.

And it continued yesterday when the tireless tasters called in at curry restaurants in Rodbourne and Old Town.

Proprietors are asked to come up with a curry, side dish and bread/rice accompaniment of their choice to impress the judges. The dishes were marked according to strict criteria on taste, aroma, texture and appearance.

Their findings will remain a closely-guarded secret until the end of the month when the top four chefs will be invited to go head-to-head for a cook-off at Swindon College.

The winner will go on to the South West regional final and possibly the national final in Harrogate in September to compete for the title National Curry Chef of the Year 2002.

The competition is organised by Swindon Council Environmental Health Department.

As well as being tested on the quality of their fare, chefs are subjected to a random hygiene check as part of the judging protest.

Last year top prize went to the Biplob restaurant on Wood Street, Old Town.

Charged with the tricky task of choosing Swindon's top curry chef are: Shirley Solanki, a tutor at Swindon College; Dominic Ponsford, a reporter on the Evening Advertiser; Shaun Skinner from radio station GWR FM and Nick Fenwick, Swindon Council head of Environmental Health.