A Darlington fish and chip shop has been named as one of the 20 best chippies in the country.

The National Fish and Chip Awards measures entrants against a range of criteria including environmental practice, product knowledge and employer accountability.

The Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington, is not onto the next stage of the selection process.

It is expected that the overall winner will be announced in February next year.

Andrew Crook, president at the National Federation of Fish Friers, which organises the awards, says: "The level of detail we require entrants to provide hasn’t phased our shortlisted businesses and they are hitting every mark.

"The award officials have gone back and forth and around in circles choosing the 20 finalists.

"It’s not been an easy task, so what a brilliant achievement for those that are moving forward."

Seafood from Norway is the main sponsor of the award and Victoria Braathen, the UK Director, also praised the contenders for the prize.

She said: "The 20 fish and chip takeaways should be extremely proud to be another step closer to potentially claiming the coveted top title in celebration of the nation’s favourite dish.

"The Norwegian seafood industry is proud to support UK fish and chip shops, supplying responsibly sourced Norwegian cod and haddock to operators that value quality and provenance.

"We’re excited to see how the category contenders progress."

Here are the contenders:

Tees Valley

Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington

Yorkshire

Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, Bridlington

Mister C’s, Selby

The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet

Auckley Friery, Doncaster

Lincolnshire

Marina Fish & Chips, Skegness

Greater Manchester

Chips @No.8, Prestwich

Lancashire

Westend Fish and Chips, Oswaldtwistle

Nottinghamshire

Angells Fisheries, Newark-on-Trent

Bristol

Bishopston Fish and Chips, Bristol

Norfolk

French’s, Wells-next-the-Sea

Hampshire

Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh

Surrey

Seafare Guildford, Guildford

London

Stones Fish and Chips, Ealing

Wales

Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff

Ship Deck, Caerphilly

Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech

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Scotland

The Fish Works, Largs

The Wee Chippy, Anstruther

Northern Ireland

Chipmongers Portstewart, Londonderry