A REDDITCH fish and chip shop owner has been making waves in Norway as part of a trip of a lifetime.

The Golden Carp Chippy in Redditch has been revealed as the top fish and chip shop in The Midlands.

Following rigorous judging, 10 businesses were shortlisted for the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, one of 15 categories in the 2018 National Fish & Chip Awards.

The 10 shops, representing the best of the best of British fish and chips, will now compete in a final judging stage for this top accolade and aim to be crowned number one in the UK.

As part of the competition, owner Theo Ellinas recently visited the Norway's western shores on an educational study trip to showcase its ‘whitegold’ cod and haddock - two of the most popular species used by British chippys.

Mr Ellinas visited the port city of Ålesund to discover the facts surrounding one of the largest sustainable cod and haddock stocks in the world.

Experiencing first-hand how Norway provides the perfect living environment for cod, the finalists stepped aboard the working FAS vessel ‘Geir II’ - one of the newest longline fishing vessels in the world.

They journeyed out on the cold, clear Norwegian waters and uncovered the science behind the country’s sustainable fisheries management program while witnessing the entire fishing process; from baiting and ‘shooting’ the lines, to processing and freezing while out at sea.

Returning to land, Mr Ellinas had a chance to exchange knowledge with top Norwegian chefs; sharing the background and history of the Great British tradition of fish and chips, while learning traditional cured Nordic cod recipes.

The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at the 30th anniversary National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony in London on January 25.