THEY have battered the competition to take away a prestigious national award.

Staff at a Hampshire fish and chip shop are celebrating after joining the country’s fish-frying elite.

The Best Fry fish and chip shop, in West End , has scooped the Fish and Chip Quality Award, presented by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF).

The scheme rewards shops that provide quality food and maintain high standards of hygiene.

And the shop could soon be celebrating a double success, after it was named as one of five finalists from across the south in the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year award.

John Lee, who runs Best Fry with his dad, Shane, said: “I am very pleased with this award, which my staff and I have worked very hard to achieve.

“We are proud to be recognised by the NFFF and we proudly display our quality award to let our customers know they can buy with confidence in our shop.”