A row has broken out over a sign above a fish and chip shop after the premises were sold to new owners - but the former name has seemingly been retained.

The former Clem's fish and chip shop in Bishop Auckland town centre was recently sold to new owners after being put up for sale.

Once owned by the Clems family, who still run a restaurant in Spennymoor, the shop was set to be renamed once the sale was complete.

However, several months later, the owners of Clem's have claimed the new owners have continued to trade using their brand.

The new owners, who are officially trading as Carters, have since responded saying that they are in the process of changing the signs.

Nicola Oxenham, who runs Clem's in Spennymoor, said the issue is “confusing customers.”

She told The Northern Echo: “We’re having to tell customers that it’s not Clem's and we’ve had a lot of negative feedback from it.

“Obviously people going in and saying it is Clem's but it isn’t, but when you phone them they actually answer the phone as Carter’s

“But why they won’t take the signage down is beyond me."

She continued to explain that Clems is her Grandad’s name and it “means a lot” to her family.

She said: “It’s just not part of the family anymore and it’s having a huge detrimental affect on Spennymoor because we are then having to tell people it’s not Clem's.

“It’s just tarnishing the reputation, and it hits home, my grandparents and my dad worked blooming hard and for someone to be just so flippant I don’t know why they don’t just take the signs down.”

As a result of continued confusion, Clem's has been forced to make an announcement on social media in an attempt to clear up the confusion.

In a post, they said: “It has come to our attention that the Clem's sign is still being displayed at Bishop Auckland.

“The new owners at Bishop Auckland are also trading as Clem’s Fish & chips on Just Eat.

“As you can appreciate this matter is being dealt with and it is not related to Clem's in Spennymoor.

“Please be aware the business was sold in April 2022 and is no longer owned by the Oxenham family.

Read more: Your 'frightening' pictures as thunderstorms light up North East skies

“The only remaining Clem's Fish Restaurant trading is the one in Spennymoor. Thank you for your continued custom.”

However, the new owners of the shop, trading as Carter’s, responded with their side of events after the signage row.

Mr Singh, owner of Carter’s in Bishop Auckland, argued that he was in the process of changing the sign, but was delayed due to the building being in a conservation area.

He said: “Basically, I bought the business in April, and it’s called Carter’s and I’m getting the sign changed.

“After the sale it still had Clems on it and I had to put an application in, because it is in a conservation area.

“That’s all it was, so until I have the planning permission passed and grants to pay for a new sign, which are coming this week.”

To get more stories from Bishop Auckland direct to your email basket go here

Mr Singh revealed that the new sign had cost him £1,300, and said the whole application process was “ongoing and a bit long-winded.”

He said: “I know it’s taking a while to sort, I’ve just literally spent £1,300 for the new sign and thank god for Bishop Auckland Council who have helped me out with funding and that’s going to help me out there a bit.

“The whole application process has been ongoing and a bit long-winded.”

Read next: 

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here