It is out of the frying pan and into the final for a Harpenden chip shop which has made it through to the last stage of a national industry award.

After beating off competition across three counties in the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year category of the National Fish and Chip Awards, Godfrey’s has now been named as the overall regional winner for Central and Southern England.

The high street chippy is one of 10 business across the country who will be grilled by a panel of specialist media and industry judges in January, before it is decided who will take the ultimate UK title.

Owner Luke Godfrey said: “It’s amazing to find out we’re in the final and there’s a real buzz in the shop since we got the news.

“We’ve put everything into the competition and reaching the final has made it all worthwhile. We’ve even had customers coming in just to wish us luck which is brilliant.”