Birmingham staged a clean sweep at a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating the cream of Britain's Asian talent.

The six winners of each of the categories at the Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Central Awards are from the city.

Those honoured included Salma Yaqoob, who became Birmingham's first Respect Party councillor when she won the Sparkbrook contest in last Thursday's local elections. Coun Yaqoob was awarded in the Public Service Excellence category.

Also receiving awards were fish and chip entrepreneur Johngir Saddiq, who won in the Entrepreneurial Excellence category.

Professor Upkar Singh Pardesi, from Moseley, won the Healthcare & Education Excellence category, while Asian newspaper editor Gurjeet Bains picked up the Media, Sports & Arts Award.

Joga Singh, a director of PricewaterhouseCoopers, won the Professional Excellence Award and property tycoon Manjit Deol received the Business & Commerce Excellence Award.

A total of 11 of the 24 finalists for the ceremonial central final were from the city.

The awards, which were held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the National Exhibition Centre on Saturday, focus on the contributions made by British Asians to the social fabric of the UK.

The ceremony, which included Asian music, dance, fashions and food, is in its third year and forms part of a nationwide search for Asian high flyers in the UK.

The Lifetime Achievement Asian Jewel Award, which does not have any nominated finalists, was presented to Leicester-based businessman Abdul Sattar Omar.

Emile Abu-Shakra, from Lloyds TSB, said: "This year's winners really are a testament to the dedication, talent and energy of British Asians.

"You'd be hard pressed to walk away from the event and not feel inspired by the success and effort that was on show."

The judges for this year's awards include the Birmingham-born director of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones, Commander-in-Chief of the naval fleet Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, and the chief executive of the Barrow Cadbury Trust, Sukhvinder Stubbs. Khalid Darr, the chairman of the awards, said: "Over the past year I have been most struck by the achievements and success stories prevalent within out community and I am proud to be able to chronicle some key parts of what has been done.

"Here is an eclectic presentation of the best of Asian success and integration, a profile of a community that is proud of its commitment to the central values of its traditions, hard work, self-reliance, and community service."

Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a letter that he was "pleased" to send his best wishes to those attending the awards and highlighted the contributions of Britain's diverse communities.

"I am proud to be the Prime Minister of a multi-cultural Britain. I strongly believe that Britain's diversity and experiences have brought tremendous strengths and benefits to our society," he wrote.

"The Asian Jewel Awards are an important and unique initiative and play a very significant role in helping appreciate and celebrate this diversity." ..SUPL: