A FISH and chip shop owner has praised the local community for making her feel so welcome.

Catherine Liu took over Martins Road Fish 'N' Chips, on Martins Road in Halstead in June, and since then has set out making a name for the business across the town.

She said: "I am really enjoying the area and meeting local customers.

"It feels like they are not just customers because it feels like a community here in Halstead.

"People come in to the shop and welcome you since they know it is under new ownership.

"They have been really supportive and it seems like it is all going in the right direction."

Catherine, who also lives in Halstead, previously ran a chippy in the coastal town of Brighton for ten years, and knows how to make the perfect light and fluffy chip - so far feedback from locals has been extremely positive.

She said: "Each time someone tries the food we have a really good response and they will tell their friends to come and their neighbours.

"People come in and say your fish is the best we have ever had.

"I do not need to do much advertising, it is word of mouth.

"Some customers come in three times a week.

"I know who is coming in on which days and of course we keep having new customers coming as well."

The takeaway, which has just had new signage installed, offers a local beer battered, line caught cod and even offers delivery to customers on a Thursday and a Friday.

Catherine said: "We have found it very easy because people accepted us straight away.

"We will be doing things to help the community, we would like to find someone or a local cause to sponsor.

"I am a strong believer in what goes around comes around and it is most important to give to the community as well as take."