HAGLEY fish and chip shop Our Plaice are close to reeling in another top award.

Employee James Houlston is in line to become the Young Fish Frier of the Year.

The 20-year-old from Hagley has already fought his way through to the semi-finals of this year's competition.

He is now due to travel to Leeds next month to take part in a skills challenge where the top five contestants will battle it out in a mystery dining round for judges to cast their expert eye over.

That will be followed by a 20-minute presentation by the contenders as they look to net the title.

Our Plaice are no strangers to landing awards.

Former employee Ian Allsop won Young Fish Frier back in 2008.

Prior to that, Our Plaice was voted the best fish and chip shop in the UK back in 2004/5.

Proprietors Gregg and Caroline Howard, who also run a fish and chip shop in Kidderminster, are rightly proud of their catch and said: "Becoming Young Fish Frier provides so many opportunities. Already James will get invites to provide exhibitions around the country. The National Fish Fryers Federation love to have young ambassadors for the trade."

The overall winner will be announced in January 2015 at a plush ceremony in London.