A self-confessed spice addict has been handed the title of curry queen.

Rochelle Peachey, who now lives in California, grew up in Gants Hill, where her love for spice started.

“I was about 10 or 11 when I had something spicy,” she said. “It must have done something to my tastebuds because now I can’t go a day without it.”

She admits to putting paprika on her scrambled egg in the morning, and eating spicy food daily, which won her the title of curry queen by spicy sauce makers Pataks.

“Since I won the title I’ve had a lot of men from India asking me out for a curry through my online dating site, I Love Your Accent,” she said. “My husband and I just laugh.”

Mrs Peachey moved to California with her husband for work four years ago, but when she arrived she struggled to get her spicy fix.

“I would drive miles and miles to get to a curry house,” she said. “And even THEN they were quite weak and bland, so I started buying loads of curry sauces and making my own, but nothing can beat a real curry,” she added.