How curry became a real satellite dish

CUSTOMERS ordering a takeaway from an Indian restaurant could soon be able to track their delivery by satellite.

Owner Mohammed Ali has opened Maliks, in Chesterton, and is setting up a webcam so customers can watch their order being cooked in the restaurant's kitchen on the internet.

Then Mr Ali hopes to install a Global Positioning Navigation system to show the progress of the order from oven door to front door.

Website updates will inform customers of delays, like a traffic jam, while a clock counts down the time until dinner is served.

Mr Ali, aged 30, of Hanley, said: "I have done my research and I believe we are the first in the world to do this.

"This is a traditional Indian takeaway, with good quality, home-cooked food. We are not marketing towards drunks leaving the pub, our customers will be curry lovers.

"We are proud of our facilities and our hygiene, so we are happy to invite customers to see the kitchen on camera, and watch the food being prepared.

"Then the GPS tracking system will allow people to follow their food over the internet, so they know exactly when it is due to arrive."

Mr Ali, who has experience of photography and video equipment, has spent £25,000 on the CCTV equipment so he can film his chef in action and set up the GPS system.

Chef Nefur Miah said: "I'm happy to be filmed while cooking."

The plan to open the takeaway in London Road had sparked objections because it was to be the 14th takeaway in the Chesterton area.

It was only allowed planning approval on appeal after residents had complained about extra litter, food smells and too many takeaways.

Councillor John Beech, who officially opened the takeaway, said: "If you don't have takeaways and public amenities people don't want to live in an area.

"Most people are open to new ideas, it is so easy to use the website.

"But it is the quality of the food that will be more important to people."

Abdul Chaudry, of the North Staffordshire Bangladeshi Association, said: "There is nothing like this locally."

The new website is up and running, but Mr Ali needs permission from Ofcom to broadcast live images.

He also needs permission from an operator to publish the map used with the tracking system and expects it to be up and running by Monday.

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