A RADCLIFFE family have found themselves in esteemed company after their Italian restaurant was shortlisted for two national awards.

Joanne and Antonello Riu, of Blenmar Close, only opened Antonello's restaurant in Edgworth last year and it has now been nominated for Best Family Restaurant and Best Newcomer at the first English Italian Awards.

Judges from the competition will be visiting venues, which have been chosen by the public, over the coming weeks to help with their decision, with the finals will be taking place on October 4 at Manchester’s Palace Hotel.

The gala ball will cap off what will already be a momentous day in the Riu household as the couple celebrate their wedding anniversary and their youngest daughter Giovanna's first birthday.

Also among the culinary elite making up the shortlist for the awards' 16 categories are Rio Ferdinand's Rosso restaurant and celebrity chef Aldo Zilli's San Carlo Group.

Joanne, aged 31, said: "It's a real privilege for us to be nominated alongside so many fantastic restaurants and famous faces, and particularly because our customers are the ones who have put us forward for the awards.

"We first heard about the awards a few months ago and we have been promoting it in the restaurant since then. Thankfully people have responded really well and now we have this fantastic night to look forward to."

Joanne and Antonello, who is originally from Sardinia, opened the restaurant in Bolton Road, Turton, in December last year and are excited about the prospect of winning the big prize.

Joanne, a former Radcliffe High School and Bury College student, added: "Antonello has been a restaurateur for years and I have always worked in hospitality, so when the opportunity came up we decided to go for it and open our own restaurant.

"We both really wanted to work for ourselves so we thought it was worth giving it a go. We opened when our daughter was only eight weeks old, so it has been very hard work at times, but really enjoyable.

"It has been a complete whirlwind of a year and it's lovely to know that people have responded so well."