YOUNGSTERS put Dorchester shops to the taste test for the title of Best Chips in Dorchester.

The Champions Youth Club members voted for their favourites fries after visiting to six fish and chip shops in the town.

Staff at Case and Brewer in Victoria Road were frying high after beating off the opposition to win the title in the business's 40th anniversary year.

Partner David Brewer said: "I am very proud.

"It is a tribute to all of my staff and the way they run things."

Fifteen youngsters from the Pentecostal Church in Cambridge Road tucked into portions of chips before offering marks out of 20 on such criteria as wrappings, value and taste.

They tasted the samples from wrappers and without salt, vinegar and tomato sauce before finishing off the remainders in chip butties.

Denise Trowbridge, joint leader of Champions Youth Club, said: "The members went in and bought chips from the various shops.

"They didn't let on what they were doing and brought the chips back. The children and leaders tried chips from each portions and moved down the line to test each one."

She added: "They didn't know which chips were from which shops and made their decision on such criteria as best wrapped and best taste.

"The Case and Brewer chips had most points and won overall for their taste."

The youngsters returned to surprise Case and Brewer staff with a certificate for the Best Chips in Dorchester.

The club meets every Thursday for children aged nine to 13 and revived the chip competition after a gap of several years.

Case and Brewer has three full time staff and six part time staff. They include Kelvin Biles, who has worked there for 24 years.

The shop has previously won horticultural society awards for its floral displays and has held the Seafish Quality Award for eight years.

Mr Brewer said: "I think our chips won because we only use the best quality potatoes."

The Champions club meets mainly during term time but also has some holiday sessions and takes youngsters away on summer camp.