The cost of a curry could rocket unless the Government relaxes inflexible immigration laws which are preventing Indian chefs from entering the country.

That is the argument local restaurater Enam Ali MBE, will be making to the Government next month as he spearheads a campaign for a relaxation to immigration policy.

Mr Ali, who owns Le Raj in Epsom and recently appeared on The One Show, says tight immigration conditions for non-European workers is worsening a skills shortage and is a 'straight-jacket' for the booming curry industry which is worth £3.5 billion in the UK.

With one in every four chefs’ jobs now vacant and few trained Indian chefs or willing apprentices in the UK to fill positions, Mr Ali has been forced to look overseas.

However the Home Office currently requires that all Indian immigrants working as chefs must be able to speak English, be educated to NVQ level four with five years experience at a post-graduate level, and be paid a minimum salary of £28,260.

Mr Ali says this is not a realistic or flexible system and is preventing him from expanding his business.

He said: "We need support from the Government whose approach to immigration controls is hurting our sector.

"Many restaurants are short of chefs, yet the Government is making it and more and more difficult to recruit professionals from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other locations where the skills can be found."

Mr Ali is keen to point out that his chefs are not asylum seekers but skilled workers who contribute to society and who, after five years, return to their homeland unless the Home Office grants them leave to stay.

Mr Ali added: "Of course the Government has to take action on immigration.

"But these rules are a straight-jacket for the curry restaurant sector which naturally finds it difficult to employ people with the right cooking skills and passion for curry within the UK and European Union.

"It would be a great pity if restaurants who are thinking of expanding or promoting themselves during the Olympics are not able to do so because they cannot find the right staff."

Mr Ali will be submitting a report detailing the skills shortage to the Government on August 31.