A WIRRAL barrister has signed a two-year deal with TV chef Jamie Oliver's agent to spread the art of making curry.

Nisha Katona wrote 'Curry in a Hurry' in May and was determined to have her work published.

She looked on Jamie Oliver's website and after sending the book proposal to his agent was offered the contact.

Nisha is now in talks to publish the book and there are also discussions for a potential television series.

Nisha, who is also holding a series of monthly curry workshops at Claremount Farm. said: "I realised that curry can be made very simply, and there's no need to buy ready-made meals.

"My mission is to lift the veil on these ancient curry formulas. I wrote the book in May, and thought 'what do I do with this?'

"I never imagined that any of this would happen. I thought I'd just push the doors and if nothing happens it's not meant to be. But it’s just been an amazing journey.

"It's taught me that if you really want to do something just give it a go, because anything’s possible."

Ormskirk-born Nisha has spent many years teaching informing curry classes to all age groups. Her lessons trace the evolution of Indian cuisine through the culture and history of India.

She said: "We don't have an Indian curry expert in England at the moment. Madhur Jaffrey was the last one. There's a gap in the market for a curry authority."

Nisha is a full-time barrister practicing in Liverpool. A keen arts enthusiast, Nisha and her guitarist husband Zoltan Katona, devised and run an arts programme for schools across San Francisco, USA and is a trustee for National Museums Liverpool.

To book on Nisha's curry workshops at Claremount Farm, visit www.nishakatona.com