WHETHER they're eaten with fish, burgers or pies, or simply on their own with some salt and vinegar, chips are always on the menu.

And in honour of the fried potato, the British Potato Council has declared this week as National Chip Week.

One in four of all potatoes are eaten as chips and 38,000 tonnes of fries are eaten every week.

Yet despite this week's special tribute, many of Warrington's chip shops have chosen not to celebrate the event, with some members of staff not even knowing when this year's event was taking place.

But Trevor Brunt, manager of Les's Fish Bar on Bridge Street, said chips will always be popular as they are a traditional English dish, whether it's National Chip Week or not.

He said: "People enjoy eating fish and chips because it's traditional, but chip shops are having a few problems at the moment due to the cod shortage.

"We go through about 10 bags of potatoes, each weighing 56lb, every day at this shop and that rises to 15 or 16 bags on Fridays and Saturdays.

"Everyone likes a bag of chips and their popularity is always on the up."

In a recent survey conducted by the British Potato Council, more than 40 per cent of people questioned said cod and chips would be their ideal takeaway, with 21 per cent opting for chicken tikka masala and pilau rice, and just 15 per cent plumping for sweet and sour pork with egg fried rice.

School children in Warrington can expect to find chips on the lunch menu only once a fortnight, with healthier alternatives taking their place.

Primary school pupils now enjoy baked, mashed and boiled potatoes when the lunchtime bell rings, as well as pasta and rice.

However, chips have become increasingly popular with teenagers and they appear on the menu daily at secondary schools. With so much choice around how often do people in Warrington eat French fries?

Biochemist Mark Travis, of Finsbury Close, Great Sankey, said: "When I was younger my mum's homemade chips always used to be my favourite.

"I don't eat chips as often now because there are more choices available."

Twenty-four-year-old Kate Leamey, of Elmsett Close in Great Sankey, said: "My favourite chips are chippy chips because they taste so good and I don't have to cook them.

"However, these days I tend to eat oven chips about once a week as I'm trying my hardest to shed the pounds!"

Potatoes originate from the Andes Mountains in Peru and in the early 1500s Spanish explorers took potatoes to Italy, France and Spain.

Potatoes became fashionable in the 18th century when Marie Antoinette paraded through the French countryside wearing potato blossoms in her hair.

During both World Wars, people relied on the potato to provide a balanced meal and thousands of extras tonnes were produced as part of the Dig for Victory campaign.