OLYMPUS Fish and Chip Restaurant is asking all Bolton residents to help them achieve “first plaice” in a prestigious national award.

National Chip Week is taking place between February 17 and 23 and Olympus hopes that Bolton will get behind its entry for the Choice Chip Awards and vote before the closing date tomorrow.

Rebecca Woods, secretary at Olympus, said: “The Choice Chip Awards is a national competition involving hundreds of chippies from over the country and we are the only Bolton-based restaurant who has entered.

“We’ve already had 1,500 votes but we are doing one last push to get more in the hope that we will at least win the North West’s best chippy.”

More than 250 million fish and chip meals are sold in the UK each year, and celebrity fans include Rihanna, Kate Moss and David Walliams — Michelle Obama was also recently revealed that her biggest food weakness is French fries.

The independent restaurant in Great Moor Street, is owned by Tasos Pattichis and first opened its doors in 1987.

Ms Woods said: “Olympus is an independent, family run business in the heart of Bolton, and it is quite overwhelming to think that a company with such simple roots can compete on a national level with giants such as Harry Ramsdens.

“Our staff work incredibly hard to go the extra mile for our customers, and winning the Choice Chip Awards would give our staff the recognition they truly deserve, while showing the world that Bolton isn't just a little dot on the map.

“We've got just as much to offer as any big city in Britain.”

During chip week Olympus will also be running a special menu made up of chip shop colloquialisms. Ms Woods said: “The new menu will feature terms used up and down the British Isles. For example, some of those that will be appearing on the menu are Snozzsups (sausage, chips and gravy), Scallops (battered slice of potato) and Nerks (chips).

“It’s just a bit of fun and we hope that Bolton will join in.”

To vote visit chips.lovepotatoes.co.uk