A FACTORY worker who became a chippy boss is frying high after receiving a quality award.

Tracy Owen, 39, sold her house in Trawden, near Colne, 11 months ago to try her hand in the fish and chip business.

Her gamble paid off when the quality assurance inspector from the Sea Fish Industry Authority told her she had qualified.

The authority has only given out 325 certificates of quality to the 700 chippies from across the UK who applied for the award.

Mrs Owen invited the inspector in to the popular chippy in York Street, Accrington, when she heard about the drive to raise standards by the authority and was confident he would reward her efforts.

She said: "I had worked as a sewing machinist since I was 16 and decided 11 months ago I had had enough of factory life.

"I also wanted to be my own boss.

"I am too old to go to college and I like mixing with people, so a chippy was the perfect thing for me to do.

"We sold our house and after two weeks training at Cemetery Chippy, Colne, we moved into York street, where we are definitely making a go of things."

Mrs Owen has her own ideas about the state of the industry.

She said: "Chippies are falling by the wayside nowadays because they they to do too much.

"We stick to the traditional fish and chip menu and that is why we are doing so well."

Mike Platt, quality assurance inspector for the Sea Fish Industry Authority, said: "It is a tremendous achievement for Mrs Owen.

"She is very conscientious and is passionate about her product."