I've been frying chips since I was 14 - now I've been named best in the UK

It was 16 years ago when Jamie Toland first went to work for Taylors chippy in Woodley as a 14-year-old lad on work experience. Back then, chip shop owner Anne Wallace admits she didn't have high hopes for the "cheeky kid" who was so shy he wouldn't leave the potato room.

But Jamie soon realised he'd found his vocation in life, and over the years worked his way up to manager. Now, aged 30, Jamie has been crowned Employee of the Year at the prestigious National Fish and Chip Awards and honoured at a glittering awards night in London.

After the glitz and glamour in the capital on Wednesday night, it was straight back to the fryers at Woodley Precinct on Thursday though. Not that Jamie minds because he loves his job that much.

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Jamie, from Offerton, says: "When I first started working here everyone was joking, saying 'you'll bloody stink of fish' but look at me now, I'm voted the best employee in the country. That's pretty amazing."

Talking about his journey, he says: "I started here around 16 years ago when I was 14 rumbling the potatoes, mopping the floors... I still do all that now of course. But it took me a few years to build up the confidence to be on the counter but I loved it, and I still love it now.

"People would laugh about the job and think it was a bit of a silly occupation, maybe smelly, things like that. But I look now and feel how proud I am, that I've managed to work my way up to become manager, have an amazing team behind me, have a wonderful wife, three amazing children, and I just absolutely love this job."

Anne Wallace owner of Taylors said: "He's such an important part of the business, he's been with us for 16 years, he was only 14, a