OTLEY fish and chip supremos Heather and Neal Hodnett (pictured left) are celebrating after making it into the regional finals of a national competition.

The Hodnetts, who took over Maypole Fisheries (formerly Ballingers) in Cross Green just a year ago, have been chosen as one of the 50 regional finalists in the Seafish Industry's Fish and Chip shop of the year contest.

And out of an original 3,000 hopefuls, they are now down to the last 400 in the country.

Mrs Hodnett said they were now waiting to be visited by a mystery customer who would check the shop over for cleanliness, quality, and the treatment of people coming in to buy their fish and chips.

"We really pleased, it's very good to get through to the next round. We get a lot of people telling us they are the best fish and chips for far and wide," she said.

Just three shops will go through from each region and the national finals will be held in London in November.

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