A FISH and chip shop in Rickmansworth has been presented with a national award.

Sea Master Fish and Chip Shop in Uxbridge Road has been awarded the Seafish Friers Quality Award.

Tacettin Arslan and Oktay Ogredici, both from Turkey, opened the shop last year and were inspected for the award last month.

In total 240 checks were carried out with inspectors noting everything from storage conditions and sugar content of the chips to the lighting, cleanliness and design of the shop.

"If you don't love your job and try to make everything the best people will go somewhere else," Mr Ogredici said.

He said cod and chips remained the most popular food on the menu but the shop also sells haddock, rock, plaice, skate and other types of seafood.

When asked about the World Wildlife Federation's warnings about depleting cod stocks and how it affects his business, Mr Ogredici replied positively: "It is now even better for us. People think the cod is going to go away so they keep coming. I've been in this business for 12 years and since that time they always say 'cod will finish in a couple of years' and they put the price up and make more money. The cod never finishes."

Mr Ogredici added: "Our aim is not to make money, our aim is to satisfy the customers."