A DUDLEY councillor has turned trader and opened a new grill and curry house in Kates Hill.

Councillor Sara Bothul, who represents St James’s ward, has opened Desi Village in Highview Street, Dudley, with her husband Waqas Ali.

The couple have transformed a former chip shop premises into the new eatery which opened on December 11.

Sara said it has already proven a popular addition to the area and she added: “I can’t believe how busy we are. Locals have been saying we needed something like this in our community.

“We have a variety of different foods from grills, curries, samosas, burgers, nans, chapatis and much more.

“There is no other place like this in the Kates Hill area.

“I’ve always wanted to open my own business – I do a lot of cooking at home.

“We’ve had people from outside Dudley, from Birmingham and Tividale, coming to try our food.”

The restaurant is open seven days a week.