Fish and chip fans across Bradford have been promised a good deal by chippies, despite the soaring cost of cod.

The cost of a fish supper could hit £5 in some parts of the country because cod is in short supply. But Bradford district fish fryers have said they will still strive to keep prices down.

Restrictions on catches imposed by the European Union have pushed the price of cod up to more than £3 a pound.

The supply of cod from the North Sea and Irish Sea is drying up and Britain has signed up to EU plans to combat over-fishing.

Allan Davison, fryer and partner of Skipton's Bizzie Lizzie's, named 1999 fish and chip shop of the year, said they absorbed the rising cost of cod.

"Since the beginning of last year a 60lb box of frozen cod has gone up gradually and now costs about £10 more," said Mr Davison.

A portion of cod from the Swadford Street chippie is served up at £1.45, while chips cost 85p.

"Because we're quite a big company we can afford to absorb the rising costs and won't be passing on the increase to our customers, but I would imagine a smaller chip shop would feel the pinch," said Mr Davison.

John Siddons, owner of Victoria Fish Bar and Restaurant, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Bradford, said he had not noticed a rise in the price of cod but expected one.

A portion of cod at the Saltaire chippie costs £1.30, and customers pay 75p for chips.

"We used to sell haddock at the same price but because of increases in the cost of it we've had to put it up to £1.55.

"The same could happen with cod in the future," he added.

"We're a small takeaway and restaurant. When you work in such a price-sensitive market you can't always afford to absorb the rising costs and unfortunately have to put prices up."

A spokeswoman for Harry Ramsden's fish and chips restaurant at Guiseley said the company bought fish on a fixed yearly contract.

"We protect our supplies of cod and haddock by sourcing our fish from other non-EU countries - the seas off Iceland and Norway as well as the North Sea," she said.

"While fish prices have risen we have managed to absorb most of this increase to date, however we are continuing to monitor the situation closely."

A portion of cod and chips from the Harry Ramsden's takeaway costs £2.75, and customers pay £5.70 for the meal in the restaurant.

Ann Kirk, general secretary of the National Federation of Fish Fryers, said more stocks of fish were being flown in from Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

She added that fish and chips was still the top takeaway and excellent value for money.

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