Congratulations Dante's! News & Star readers have voted this takeaway on Shadygrove Road, Raffles, Carlisle, as the best fish and chip shop in north and west Cumbria.

Hundreds of our readers nominated their favourite chippies.

That gave us a top 10, and thousands more voted for the names on this list to find the region's favourite.

Dante's triumphed, to the delight of new owners Akin and Sevgi Kukuk.

This husband and wife team took over only in January, having moved to Carlisle from London.

Manager Kuzey Mintimur and chef Idriz Mustafa were already working there under the previous owners.

"I'm very happy," Akin told the News & Star.

"I was really surprised. We didn't think we would win because we're new here, although the shop has been here for many years.

"We had restaurants in London - Turkish grill houses.

"We came here just for a change, to get away from London. It's a bit more relaxed up here.

"It's different to running a restaurant. A restaurant is more complicated."

But there's more to Dante's than fish and chips. Its other delicacies include pizzas and kebabs.

"Kebabs are the most popular," said Akin.

"People have their routines. On Friday it's fish and chips. On Saturday it's kebabs.

"We get a lot of locals and we get people travelling from further away.

"People say there's a warm welcome. They get a smile. They say the food is nicely presented and everything is nice and clean."

Akin is keen to express his gratitude to the customers who voted for Dante's.

"I'd just like to thank them so much," he said. "We couldn't do it without them. It's a sign of appreciation. To be voted the best in the area - it's a major thing."

The other finalists were Angel Lane Chippy in Penrith, Cottage Chippy in Whitehaven, Dalston Fryer in Dalston, Fontana's in Carlisle, The Fryery in Carlisle, Moorclose Chippy in Workington, Noah's Plaice in Egremont, Sproats in Cleator Moor and Superfish in Workington.