A fish and chip shop which attracts customers from across the region has been recognised with a significant accolade.

The Coxhoe Fish Bar has been named in a national magazine as among the top five fish and chip shops in the North-East, only two years after Sharon Peel and partner Stephen Threlfall took over the business in the County Durham village.

The couple, with regular assistant Iris Todd, have had confirmation from the Sea Fish Industry that their business is among the best 50 chippies in the country.

The Sea Fish Industry award certificate now takes pride of place on the walls of the premises in Blackgate East in the village.

"We have a lot of regular local customers, but we get people calling in from further afield who have heard about us.

"It was because of the commendations from our customers that we got the award."

Ms Peel said the ethos of the business is that they only serve food that they would expect to be served themselves.