AN award-winning fish and chip shop will ask its customers to ditch salt and vinegar this weekend, as part of a health drive.

Whitby’s Quayside, which has been named the Best Fish and Chip Shop in Yorkshire and the North-East for the second year running, will offer customers lemon juice and a tomato salsa as an alternative to traditional condiments.

The restaurant, which is run by the Fusco family, said it was going back to its roots and promoting an Italian-style alternative as part of Salt Awareness Week.

The offer follows the Department of Health challenging takeaways to help reduce consumers' average salt intake from 8.1g a day to 6g.

Trading Standards officers have found Quayside’s fish and chips contain 0.05grams of sodium per 100g.

Stuart Fusco, chief frier at Quayside, said: “By offering our customers an alternative and delicious way to dress fish and chips, we hope to show that fish and chips can be just as tasty without the added salt.

“We would like to think the only salt our customers will be taking in this weekend is a few lungful’s of Whitby’s salty sea air.”