WHEN it comes to eating fish and chips nobody does it "batter". Fish 'n' chips fan Ken Allen has travelled nearly 50,000 miles with the sole aim of clearing his favourite platter - the Harry Ramsden's challenge meal.

Designed for the serious muncher, the restaurant's challenge dish comprises of a pound of fish covered in batter sitting atop mounds of chips and two tubs of peas, filling a hefty 15-inch plate.

If the brave diner manages to finish the £12.35 meal they are given a free sweet and presented with a certificate.

Ken, 81, easily cleared his 109th challenge meal when he visited the Bournemouth seafront branch of the restaurant.

Ken and wife Joan had travelled from their home in Harlow, Essex, especially to indulge in a morsel or ten.

This was his tenth visit to the Bournemouth branch since the retired assistant purchasing manager began traversing the country five years ago to take the restaurant chain's challenge.

Top ten movies to munch fish 'n' chips to...

1. Robocarp

2. Bridge on the River Koi

3. Prawn On The Fourth of July

4. Groundhog Ray

5. Salmon To Watch Over Me.

6. The Gills Have Eyes

7. Plaice Ventura: Pet Detective

8. The Skate Escape

9. Raiders of the Lost Shark

10. I Know What You Squid Last Summer

"When I'd done 25 challenges I got a special certificate, then at 50 they flew us from Heathrow to Leeds on Concorde with plenty of champagne," said Ken.

"When I reached the 100 mark in 2001 I was invited to the reopening of a restaurant in Leeds. The most I did was four challenges in one week, which was hard going. I intend to go on with the challenges but take it easy."

Ken started on his mammoth munching campaign following a visit to the couple's daughter in Wales.

"We went for a meal in the Cardiff restaurant and I ate the challenge. When I got home we had a list of all the restaurants in the country and I thought, why not?"

Bournemouth manager, Elaine Woods, said: "He's a lovely man and finishing these huge meals does not seem to bother him. He's quite a character."

Ken said: "I never eat breakfast but I'll have some supper when I get home tonight."

The seafront restaurant broke a Harry Ramsden's record last week when it clocked up a staggering £125,000 in sales in just seven days.

"One member of staff, Jamie Trim, also cut more than a tonne of fish in 12 hours, which is quite some feat," Elaine added.