POLICE are investigating after a fight broke out in a popular Indian restaurant.

Officers say they were called to a fight inside the Funky Indian restaurant in Borough Road, Sunderland at about 6pm on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “The police attended and confirmed that those involved in the incident were known to each other and there is not believed to be any threat to the public.

“A man has been helping police with enquiries, which are ongoing”.

The restaurant says that its head chef “suffered serious injuries” in the incident and will remain closed for the rest of the week.

Deposits paid for parties and New Year’s Eve bookings will be returned.

In a statement on its Facebook page, restaurant staff said: “This was the busiest week of the year ahead but our priority is the welfare and wellbeing of our staff first who are all very traumatised by the events of last night.

“We are extremely proud of our front of house staff who very professionally and articulately escorted customers out of the restaurant”.

The statement added: “We would like to request everyone on Facebook and the media not to spread silly jokes, hearsay or Chinese whispers”.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Northumbria Police on 101.