A DURHAM chippie is hoping to be ranked among the best fish shops in the country.

Bell's Fish Shop, in Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate Moor, is among ten across the north shortlisted in the 15th Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Competition.

Owner Graham Kennedy is hoping to go forward to the national finals in London to battle it out with seven other regional winners in November.

Mr Kennedy, 35, who has owned the shop for more than six years, said: "I'm pleased to get this far and hopefully we can get to the next stages, where the shortlist goes down to three and then one, and then get to the national final.

"The area we are in goes from the Scottish borders, across to Cumbria and down to the Midlands and there are only two shortlisted shops from the North-East.''

The shortlist was chosen after months of public voting and the first round of assessment by industry experts.

A mystery shopper will visit the shop again soon, looking at the quality of its products and things such as staff friendliness and the cleanliness of their uniforms.

Bell's, the only shop in the Durham area to hold the Sea Fish Quality Award, reached the last ten last year.

Mister Cod, in Derwent Street, Sunderland, is the other North-East contender in the competition run by the Sea Fish Industry Authority, and owner David Smith said he was delighted to be shortlisted.

Competition organiser Malcolm Large said: "To be nominated in the top 10 in the region is a marvellous achievement and all owners should be proud of their efforts. Unfortunately only three fish and chip shops can go through to the next stage.