THE HUMBLE fish and chip supper has been named as one of our national treasures.

Experts have drawn up a new set of English icons with the help of votes from the public.

And fish and chips are on the list, along with other treasures, such as the bowler hat, the Archers radio series and Sherlock Holmes.

And friends Dave Bibby and Ellis Harwood gave the thumbs-up to the vote for the fish supper as they visited their local chippy.

Mr Bibby, from Great Lever, has a chip-shop meal at least twice a week.

He said: "I love fish and chips, they really are a great British tradition. I always make sure I have fish and chips even when I go abroad."

Mr Harwood, also from Great Lever, said he was a fish and chip fan, but did say that the taste appeared to have declined in recent years.

He said: "They're definitely not like they used to be when I was a lad."

Agony aunt Claire Rayner is also a fan of the dish. She said said there iwas nothing more "romantic" than eating fish and chips on park bench after a movie The Oxford English Dictionary, the pint, Monty Python, mythical hero Robin Hood, hedges and the bobby' were also named in the list of quintessentially English treasures put together as part of the Icons - A Portrait of England collection.

People can view the icons online at www.ICONS.org.uk