THE 2019 National Fish and Chip Awards are now open for entry, and West Dunbartonshire’s chippies will be hoping for a “plaice” among the winners.

The search is now on to find the champion businesses that will be crowned at the final in January next year.

Run by Seafish, the public body that supports the £6 billion UK seafood industry, the National Fish and Chip Awards boast 14 different award categories.

Andy Gray, trade marketing manager at Seafish, told the Reporter: “The annual awards programme provides an excellent opportunity to reward and celebrate the businesses and individuals throughout the UK that are serving fantastic fish and chips and providing customers with great eating and dining experiences.

“As a nation, we eat in the region of 382 million portions of fish and chips every year, so shops and restaurants that are successful in the awards can take pride in the fact that they are amongst the crème de la crème when it comes to fish and chip businesses.”

To find out more about the awards, which are free to enter, visit fishandchipawards.com or email awardsenquiry@seafish.co.uk.