CHIP fans can celebrate and drinkers can raise a glass Lancaster is officially the best place in Britain for fish and chips and a pint.

The historic old city boasts the best fish and chip shop and the best boozer a feat that cannot be matched anywhere else in the UK.

It is a remarkable double for Lancaster after Hodgson's Chippy landed the prestigious Seafish Industry chip shop of the year award and The Waterwitch scooped the Morning Advertiser supreme champion pub gong.

The honours are the biggest and best in the country meaning Lancastrians can lord it over the rest of the land when it comes to the Great British staples of fish and chips and ale.

"I am absolutely delighted," smiles Nigel Hodgson of the Prospect Street chippy.

"There has been so much hard work and I really can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet."

Nigel and his wife Linda, who met over the fryer, received their award from celebrity chef Brian Turner and have been at the centre of a media circus ever since with TV crews and celebrity magazines rushing to the shop.

"It's all been a bit mad. But it is wonderful to win this award and all the effort is worth it," adds Nigel.

Meanwhile, Matt Jackson was celebrating 24 hours later as his canal side pub was crowned the best in the UK.

The Waterwitch also scooped the best pub promotion of the year award and Matt says: "I really couldn't believe it when they announced it as the supreme pub. Normally you get some sort of hint but there was nothing and we were stunned.

"But a lot of hard work has been put in by our staff and this award is a reward for that. It is a great feeling and the problem now is how to improve on what we have."