RISING fuel costs could mean the cost of fish and chips could take a battering.Fuel for trawlers has risen so much that fishermen in the region could pass on their extra costs by increasing the price of fish which will have a knock on effect for fish and chip shop customers in Suffolk.

RISING fuel costs could mean the cost of fish and chips could take a battering.

Fuel for trawlers has risen so much that fishermen in the region could pass on their extra costs by increasing the price of fish which will have a knock on effect for fish and chip shop customers in Suffolk.

Peter Cooney, who runs the Aldeburgh Fish and Chip shop, said he was trying to absorb extra costs for as long as possible because customers were already struggling with other increased prices.

Mr Cooney said: “I am trying to hold back because many of my customers travel by car and they are feeling the extra fuel costs already.”

He described the Bank Holiday weather in Aldeburgh as “awful” but that did not stop customers forming a queue outside the family-run business at lunchtime.

The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) says the higher diesel prices will hit trawlermen hard and could increase prices from seven per cent to 50pc.