A BEWDLEY chip shop has bagged a coveted title, after being named the best in the county.

The fries-winning performance came from Merchants, in Load Street, after it was awarded the 'Best Chippy Chips' in the whole of Worcestershire, in the annual Choice Chips Awards.

Loyal customers, regulars and fans of Merchants voted in their masses, battering stiff competition from some Worcestershire's top chippes, to ensure their perfectly cooked portions were bagged first 'plaice'.

Antony Akathiotis, owner of Merchants, said: “It’s great; it’s such a good accolade for us to have.

“We won the award last year, so to win it again is just great, we are obviously consistently good.

“The whole team here at Merchants in Bewdley work really hard and it’s a big credit to us. I’m very proud.

“To think of how many chip shops in the area entered and how many good chip shops there are in Worcestershire, it’s great to be named as one of the best.

“It’s down to our loyal customers.”

Run by the Potato Council every year in recognition of Chip Week, the Choice Chip Awards champion the tastiest servings of chips across Great Britain. This year a record number of 68,000 chip-loving Brits voted for their favourite chip shop out of 900 entrants across ten regions in Great Britain.

Kate Cox, from Potato Council, said: “Here in Great Britain we are undoubtedly a nation of chip lovers and Chip Week is fantastic celebration of our great British food tradition. Us Brits feel strongly about supporting our local chippy, so it’s no surprise so many people took the time to vote for their favourite in the Choice Chip Awards this year.

“This has been a great start to Chip Week 2015, and the chip-themed festivities will continue taking place in shops, pubs, restaurants and retail outlets across England, Scotland and Wales. This year we’re asking the Great British public to support their local chippy by celebrating Chip Week with a portion of chips from their favourite chip shop.”