DELICIOUS south Indian food is being served up in a bid to add a little bit of spice to a group’s fundraiser.

Our Community Kitchen has teamed up with Shiva and Shanthi Kumar, of Haddington Wines and Whiskies, for a special fundraiser this weekend.

A scrumptious three-course Indian meal is on offer.

Entertainment will also be provided on Saturday by Priya and the ladies from Dance Beatz.

Linda Mitchell, voluntary fundraiser, said the event came on the back of a successful fundraising race night.

She said: “Shiva and Shanthi supported us with the race night.

“I met Shiva in the street one day and he said he wanted to come and cook for us.

“I thought that was a great idea and it has all grown organically.

“It is nice if folk want to do something rather than being asked; that’s much better.”

Our Community Kitchen, which was formed about 18 months ago, meets three times a week in Haddington Bowling Club.

Instead of asking Mr Kumar to attend the group on three consecutive days, Our Community Kitchen decided to ask him to help with a fundraising night for 75 people.

The event gets under way at 7pm.

Traditional Indian beer Kingfisher will be served alongside chicken and vegetable dishes, as well as lentil daal and a spiced rice pudding.

A raffle will also be held to help boost the group’s coffers while the Eastern Eye restaurant, on Haddington’s Hardgate, is supplying papadums and onion bhajis.

The group was formed in a bid to tackle social isolation in the Haddington and Lammermuir ward and has proved a great success, meeting on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Visitors pay £4 for a three-course lunch and get the chance to interact with other members of the community.

Mrs Mitchell said: “There is no age barrier – you can be a child, you can be an elderly person or anywhere in between.

“Some people just come and want to eat and they live alone and don’t get home-cooked food that often.

“Others want companionship, friendship and have friends around the table and have a laugh.

“Somebody says they are having difficulty with this or that and someone else will know the answer and things get moving. That is the beauty of it.

“The volunteers are fabulous and one thing I say is that it is not about peeling vegetables; the big part for me is about being out there and talking to people.

“Sadly, they could be the only people who they talk to that day.”

Tickets for the event, £15, are available from Joe Forte Sports or Mike’s Bikes on Haddington High Street.