A CHIP shop in Worcester is celebrating after bagging a double award.

The Rainbow Hill Chippy in Astwood Road has been named fish and chip shop of the year for the Midlands.

Owner Tony Antonio, who was praised for his exceptional standards in food quality and hygiene, narrowly missed out on getting to the finals of the National Fish and Chip Shop of the year - as revealed in your Worcester News last month.

The award now entitles the shop to display a Seafish Fish Friers Quality Award logo to promote business, which can be a great boost for trade.

Mr Antonio, who is a third-generation fish frier and has been at the premises for the past five years, said he was pleased to get both awards.

"It is a good achievement and I want Worcester to know about my great chip shop. I love the city and my customers are really supportive and I have a great team here," he said.

To qualify for the quality award, each shop has to pass a thorough inspection assessing its image, staff training, equipment, management controls, frying and sales skills, and, most importantly, the quality of the cooked product. Each Seafish Friers Quality Award lasts for one year.

Michael Pili, training manager for the Midlands Seafish Training Association and a Seafish quality assessor, who trained Mr Antonio and his staff in food hygiene, said it was very impressive, especially as this was his first time of entry.

The shop won the award for Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire for 2007.