A FISH and chip restaurant spanning five decades is set to take orders from customers using a mobile app as it launches into the 21st century.

The family-run Royal Fisheries restaurant in Whitby, North Yorkshire, has launched its digital 'click and collect' app in attempts to meet 'customer demand'.

Carol Fusco of Royal Fisheries on Baxtergate, which also owns Fusco's of Whitby, said the app had been launched to 'save precious time', joining similar technology used by national brands such as McDonald's and Starbucks.

Ms Fusco said: "As a family business we know how busy it can be juggling everyday life.

"Work days are getting longer and the kids often have after-school activities which shortens the evenings even more, so we invested in a new app to reduce waiting times at the shop and give our customers the chance to save some precious time and beat the queues."

Last year, Royal Fisheries and Fusco's of Whitby marked its 50th year as a family run business.

The firm is managed by two generations of the Fusco family, with Ms Fusco working alongside her three sons, Adrian, Stuart and Raymond as well as daughter, Maria.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo reported that Fish Box in Robin Hoods Bay near Whitby was named as one of the UK's 50 Best Fish and Chip Takeaways for 2019.

The Fish Box, which is also owned by Fusco's of Whitby, was the only takeaway in the area to make the list according to its bosses.

During an anonymous visit, a judge inspected more than 40 parts of the business and its premises, before going on to give the site an exceptionally high score.

At the time, Stuart Fusco said: “We are thrilled that Fish Box Robin Hood’s Bay has gained this prestigious title, which is testament to the effort we put in to ensuring that every portion of fish and chips we serve is of the best quality.

"There are some exceptional businesses in the final 50 and we are honoured to be named as one of the best alongside them."