A NORTH-EAST fish shop is one of the first in the country to sell farmed cod in an attempt to help protect the species.

Roberts Fish Shop, in Dovecot Street, Stockton, began selling the farm-bred cod yesterday after it was transported from the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland.

Sam Hanley, manager of the shop, said: "It is very difficult to tell the difference between the fish. They taste and look the same and the price is roughly the same.

"We believe we are the first shop in the UK to sell fish farm cod and we are pleased to be helping the fishing industry."

Earlier this year, scientists warned that North Sea cod stocks were so low that there was a serious danger of total collapse of the fishing industry.

Mr Hanley said: "Hopefully, in five years' time there will be a mass demand for this type of fish. It is quite scarce at the moment but, hopefully, people will take to it.