A family-owned restaurant which has been based in Redbridge for more than 30 years is backing the mayor’s charitable causes with the help of its diners.

Indian restaurant Jalalabad 2 in Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, is asking visitors to donate to Mayor of Redbridge Muhammed Javed’s chosen charities during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

The restaurant’s manager Shaidul Islam, 25, will give 50p on every restaurant and takeaway order which he hopes diners will match and he plans to in turn match any donations in excess of that.

From tomorrow until August 18, the restaurateur, whose grandfathers and uncles opened the restaurant’s former home in Ilford Lane in 1978, hopes to raise more than �400 for Redbridge Carers Support Service and Redbridge Mencap.

He said: “We want customers to see this as a really good cause to put in 50p or �1. We don’t want to put a burden on them.

“Ramadan is a time for giving and for supporting those less fortunate.”

The restaurant will be busy during the religious month when people break their fast at sunset, according to Mr Islam, so the causes should benefit.

He also expects sports fans returning from the Olympic Games to be venturing in for takeaways.

He explained why the restaurant chose its charities to support.

He said: “First and foremost there are lots of causes that can be supported but when you’re born and bred in Redbridge, it’s always good to support something local.

“We know the mayor, he comes and dines here, we’ve known him for a number of years.”

The restaurant, which opened in 2005, won Spice Times’ best Ilford restaurant last year, when it was also awarded the top hygiene rating by Redbridge Council and the Food Standards Agency.

And after moving to Newbury Park, which allowed a change to more contemporary d�cor and opened the business up to Essex diners, Mr Islam has not ruled out further expansion.

He said: “In the economic climate it’s difficult but there’s always a need for people to go out and eat. In the years to come who knows?”