Owner of longstanding Newport chip shop calls it a day due to spiralling price of spuds

But earlier this week, hungry Newport residents found their trusty chippy had closed with a sign on the door that said: "Due to the price increase in potatoes Zach's Plaice is closed until further notice."

Mr Yiacoumis was unavailable for comment this week, but the association that represents fish and chip shops in the country has said Zach is not alone as the industry is facing a surge in the costs of potatoes that is clobbering high street chippies.

The cost of 25kg sacks of potatoes has trebled from £8-9 to £20-£30, says Andrew Cook president of the National Federation of Fish Friers.

"Potatoes are at their highest price since 1976," he said.

He added the current high prices have been brought aboutby a poor harvest in 2022 caused by drought.

"What we have seen is that the big processing plants are buying the potatoes up, which is seeing the price for chip shops increase further," said Mr Cook. "I don't think they will come down to the levels they were before either, as potatoes are an expensive crop to grow and fewer farmers are growing them."

He continued that with rising energy prices, and the increased cost of fish, the traditional UK chippy is facing its biggest crisis in 160 years.

"We need to get the message out to people that they have to support their local fish and chip shop, otherwise they will lose it," he said.