Colmans restaurant and takeaway in Ocean Road, South Shields, is through to the regional finals of UKTV's Local Food Hero Awards.

TV chef Brian Turner visited the shop, and owner Richard Ord showed him and a film crew around South Tyneside.

To reach the national final, staff will be asked to cook fish and chips, along with a starter, for celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, on September 5 in Plymouth.

Mr Ord said: "The footage will be shown on the UKTV Food channel in November, and we'll have to see what pans out from there.

"We're the only fish and chip shop in the country to be up for this, so that's prestigious enough in itself. Brian was wonderful and he and the production company loved South Shields – they said they were 'blown away' by it."

Food lovers were asked to nominate independent businesses with a passion for great local food in the UKTV Local Food Hero Awards.

Ten regional winners will battle it out for the honour of being crowned UKTV's Local Food Hero 2008 – and the £40,000 prize.

Colmans, which has been open for more than 80 years, has also had a visit from Channel 4's Andrew Webb, who is plotting the Big British Food Map.

Mr Ord said: "Channel 4 and UKTV both took some fantastic shots of South Tyneside.

"It's great to be highlighting good old fish and chips once again, and our wonderful town."