FLIPPING heck! Fish and chip counter assistant Vicki Burge celebrates yet another award for her employers by turning mermaid.

She just wanted to prove that she's proud of being very much a part of the superb fish cuisine at Kippers, the award-winning chippy at New Earswick, York, which has just been officially praised for the quality of its product. Also celebrating with her is Matthew Childs, even though he has other fish to fry. The Sea Fish Industry Authority has just presented proprietors, Veronica Pugh, and partner, Trevor Newbould, with its Friers Quality Award.

The partners are used to praise. Their second outlet at Monks Cross Shopping Park, reached the north eastern regional finals of Fish and Chip Shop of the Year two years ago, but later closed because it was unable to get staff.

The New Earswick shop, in Hawthorn Terrace, was also one of the first to boast that a staff member had attained an NVQ in fish frying and hospitality. The latest award follows a rigorous three-hour inspection of the New Earswick shop last month.

Veronica said: "We're thrilled because we are always trying to improve the standard of our product and the image of our industry."

But Veronica wags a finger at the question - where do you get your fish from? "I'm not telling," she said, adding: "And I'm not telling where we get our mermaids, either."

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, October 01, 2002