The restaurant received the order on Wednesday

Jamil Miah, owner of the Saffron Indian Restaurant in Topsham, received a call on Wednesday from a restaurant regular who recently moved to Dubai.

It appears Chris Harris missed the Indian restaurant so much he ordered a special meal, costing �2,000, to be flown out to him for a party on Friday.

The order for 20 diners at �100 a head included Jalfrezi and Dansak curries.

Mr Harris developed a taste for Saffron's curries while serving at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre at nearby Lympstone.

Head chef Kaptan Miah said: "At first I was shocked then I realised it was true.

"It is a challenge for us - we did our best, I hope everybody will enjoy it."

And the curry is not making the 3,398 mile journey alone.

One of the restaurant's waiters, Jamal Rahman, is travelling with it to make sure it arrives safely.

Jamal and the takeaway will fly to High Wycombe, take a taxi to Heathrow and then fly to the United Arab Emirates in order to dish up the delicacies at the banquet on Friday.