A CHIP shop owner has 'cod' it all sewn up after becoming the first in the area to scoop a prestigious award.

Steve Wood, of the Friendly Frier chip shop on Hindle Street, Darwen, has received the Friers Quality Award. He is the first in Blackburn and Darwen to earn the honour from the Seafish Authority and Fish Frier's Association.

Inspectors visited the shop in September and looked at the quality of food and hygiene.

In a four-hour visit, they looked at 193 different things, including 40 temperature checks and various hygiene checks. They even checked the way Steve cooks his chips.

Steve got news of the award two weeks ago and has put up a banner at his shop to celebrate the achievement.

"I am so proud. To be the first in the area to get the award is a fantastic achievement.

"I decided to go for the award at the start of last year. It meant a lot of preparation work, and practice. I had to make sure the temperatures were spot on and that the shop was very clean and used the best equipment.

"I was really nervous when the inspectors came, I kept wondering if I had left something dirty or if the temperatures were not quite right. But luckily everything came right for me."

In return for his efforts, Steve gets a certificate and window sticker for the shop.

However, he can not rest on his chips just yet. The award is only valid for a year and each time he has to re-apply and be re-inspected.