Fire caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a popular chip shop after a fryer over heated.

A clean-up operation is under way at Chipmasters, in Wolverhampton Road, Walsall, after the fire ripped through the takeaway yesterday.

The chip shop will remain closed for a fortnight for urgent repairs to be carried out.

It will cost the owners up to £50,000 to revamp the site.

The fire was caused when oil in a chip pan overheated then ignited at the premises, formerly known Middletons.

Staff who were working inside the building which is near the Pargeter Street junction were unhurt during the blaze.

Suba Singh, aged 28, son of the proprietor Satnam Singh, said the family was in shock over the incident.

“This is a big blow,” he said. “We will be closed for about a fortnight while we get the place cleaned up and repaired.

“We have started to clear up and it won’t take as long as we first thought to get up and running again.

“We got a call at about 11am from the fire service to say a fire had been reported. I rushed down here in a panic and when I got here it was just smoke and flames spewing out the door.

“We took over the business about three years ago from Middletons. This was the last thing we were expecting to happened. We’re in shock.

“We’ve got to replace the ceiling, decorate the walls and might have to replace the cooking range. It might cost us £40,000 to £50,000 to sort out.”

The family owns another chip shop, in Church Street, Darlaston, and has plans to open a third in the Walsall area.

Around 15 firefighters from Walsall and Wednesfield fought the blaze at its height at around 11am, with some wearing breathing gear.

Acting Watch Commander Steve Trow, of Walsall fire, said flats above the shop situated off the A454 were not damaged.