BOSSES behind a fire-stricken chippy are serving up fresh food from their vintage-style van while making preparations to get their shop back up and running.

The Old Smithy fish and chip shop has been closed since January 6 after a blaze broke out in the takeaway’s kitchen.

Two fire engines were dispatched to the takeaway at around 10.20am after which a third appliance was called due to the severity of the incident.

Everyone in the Barrow shop was evacuated to prevent smoke inhalation from the blaze.

A spokesman for The Old Smithy issued a statement online after the incident, stating the fire had occurred in one of the takeaway’s chip pans.

Part-owner Sarah Addenbrook took over the business four years ago, expanding it to include a newly-renovated vintage van which hands out fresh fish and chips on the go.

Sarah said the team was eager to reopen the shop in the next few weeks.

She said: “We’re currently searching for a range and are looking at about three weeks to be up and running again.

“In the meantime we have the vintage fish and chip van which is frying up fresh food at the back of the shop.

“That way we can still pay employees while the shop is closed. A lot of people don’t know the van is open because it’s at the back of the shop so hopefully we can get a few more customers.

“We’re very quiet at the moment and it’s getting to the point of asking whether it’s worth opening.

“We’re really grateful to the customers still coming out to see us in the van. It really means a lot.

“We’re getting back on the Barrow Eats app to do deliveries.  

“We want to reopen the shop as soon as possible.”

The fire is believed to have started due to a fault on the kitchen’s frying range.

“It was awful for us,” Sarah said.

“My house is next door too so if the fire had spread, it might’ve gone into my house.

“We’ve put so much work into the business in the past four years then to watch it going up in flames was awful.

“Local business Mitie Clean came in and cleaned the shop for us and they did a fantastic job.

“The shop itself wasn’t actually affected – it’s just the range and extraction.”

The Old Smithy van is open on Leece Lane from 4.30pm until 8pm each evening.