A man from Chester is a semi-finalist for the prestigious Drywite 'Young Fish Frier of the Year' award.

Jay Potts, who works at Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, is a semi-finalist in this year's National Fish & Chip Awards.

Competing for the Drywite 'Young Fish Frier of the Year' award, he follows in the footsteps of last year's champion, James Ellams, who came from the same chip shop in Upton.

Launched in 1995, The Drywite 'Young Fish Frier of the Year' award recognises emerging talent in the industry.

Eight semi-finalists have now secured a place in the third round, following intensive individual interviews.

Experienced entrepreneurs from across the trade challenged them with questions designed to assess their technical ability, product expertise, customer service, business knowledge, wider industry understanding, as well as observing their skills when frying fish and chips.

The eight will now progress to the next stage, with judges visiting their places of work to see them take on the demands of a busy service, before the finalists are revealed in January.

An awards ceremony take place next year at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, where one finalist will be crowned the 28th Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year.

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), said the competition played an important part in recognising the skills and talent needed to shape the future of one of Britain's most iconic dishes.

"Passing the baton to the next generation is vital for keeping the industry moving forward," he said.

"We also need this fresh talent to bring their own ideas and perspectives, as they understand what appeals to younger customers, including those who may not have grown up eating fish and chips or are more conscious of what they eat.

"There is a huge opportunity to showcase the quality of fish, its nutritional benefits and the variety of ways it can be enjoyed as the sector evolves alongside its customers.

"Our semi-finalists are great ambassadors, and we wish them all the best for the next round."

Managing director Kelvin Lee added: "In 1995 when my late sister Briar and I conceived the idea of an award in memory of our late father Malcolm Lee, our aim was to encourage young people to look upon fish frying as a worthwhile career rather than just a job.

"I am extremely pleased that, once again, our Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year judges have found eight incredibly talented young semi-finalists who now face the tough challenge of being judged to go through to the final."

Entrants for Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year must be aged between 18 and 26 at the time of entering the competition and have spent at least six months frying independently in a fish and chip shop or restaurant.

The semi-finalists are as followed:

• Abigail Barker – Millers of Haxby, Yorkshire
• Kieran Bulpit - Donington Fish & Chips in Spalding, Lincolnshire
• Matthew Faulkner - Cox at the Lighthouse in St Neots, Cambridgeshire
• Sebastian Harding-Crook – Squires in Braunton, Devon
• Max Langlands – Anstruther Fish Bar in Fife, Scotland
• Georgia Lye - Seafare Guilford, Surrey
• Lewis Oliver – The Elite Fish & Chip Company in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
• Jay Potts - Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire