A MASTERCHEF winner has opened her first restaurant in Southampton - and hopes it will give something special to the city.

Shelina Permalloo  - who wowed the TV judges in 2012 with her spicy street food - has opened her first restaurant, Lakaz Maman.

Shelina, originally from the city, says she wanted to bring back her trophy and do something special for the Southampton food scene.

She said: "There's so much emphasis on the food scene in London but being from Hampshire there's so much to celebrate, I wanted to come home and do something special in the city."

Shelina shot to fame in 2012 when she wowed the judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace with her tropical dishes and got the title of 'Mango Queen'.

She has given her trophy from MasterChef pride of place in the restaurant, which offers a food from a country not previously represented in Southampton's array of food outlets.

She said: "Mauritian food isn't a familiar cuisine in the UK and I wanted to showcase my heritage by doing the first modern mainstream Mauritian restaurant in the UK.

Since winning MasterChef Shelina has written two cookbooks Sunshine on a Plate which is award winning, along with her recent book the Sunshine Diet both published by Penguin.

She's featured on This Morning, Sunday Brunch, Lorraine, Food Network as well as returning to MasterChef to be judge to new competitors.

Shelina says: "My mum works three days at the restaurant and she whips us all into shape making sure everything remains authentic and full of flavour."

Lakaz Maman Mauritian Street Kitchen is based on 22 Bedford Place, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, between midday and 10pm.