Ainsley Harriott has started the annual hunt for Britain's best fish and chip shops by launching the 2006 Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition.

Shops across the country are submitting applications for the coveted award and customers now have two weeks to vote for their favourite chippy by filling out nomination forms at their local takeaway or restaurant, FishUpdate.com reports.

Unveiling this year's contest, celebrity chef and Ready, Steady, Cook host Ainsley, said: "Fish and chips reminds me of all that is great about British food – simple yet tasty, natural and nutritious. Its current iconic status has made it as popular today as it has ever been and it is even on menus at some of the country’s most exclusive restaurants."

The ten favourite shops with consumers in each of the 19 areas of the UK will be visited by mystery judges, with a winner for each area announced in September.

Each shop is judged on the quality of the fish and chips, staff training, customer service and hygiene. The Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition is run by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) and Ainsley Harriott will unveil the overall UK winner at the grand final in London on January 24th 2007.

The contest is now in its 19th year and Seafish claims that the annual campaign generates the equivalent of £1.3 million per year of advertising, with previous winners seeing sales boosted by as much as 40 per cent.