WHEN the chips are down, the price of Britain's favourite takeaway usually rises.

Many of the town's fish and chip shops are feeling the pinch after the cost of potatoes rocketed during the past month, leading to increased prices for a humble bag of chips.

Bad weather and a poor harvest has seen Maris Piper potatoes - the spud of choice for quality chips - almost double in price.

If the chip crisis wasn't enough, problems with fish supplies has left many fed-up fryers saying they've had-dock enough.

Derek Marshall, of Les's Bridge Street chippy, said: "We haven't put prices up just yet but it's getting to a stage where we are going to have to soon.

"Potatoes are costing almost double last year's prices and fish has also gone up. Unfortunately you can only absorb so much before you pass it on to the consumer," he said.

Frances Hutchinson, of Padgate's Jolly Fryer, added: "We have had to put our chips up by five pence to 85 pence because of the shortage.

"There haven't been too many complaints. I think customers seem to accept it," she said.

One chip shop that is determined to weather the storm is Matthews in Long Lane, Orford.

Owner George Matthews said: "We are getting absolutely battered at the moment, but we're determined to stick it out.

"With fish at a high price as well costs are unlikely to fall until at least next month," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.