The shortlist for the annual National Fish & Chip Awards is out - and you won't believe the six finalists in the north west region.

Not a single chippy from the whole of Greater Manchester has made the shortlist, even though we all know that the region is full of top fish and chip shops.

The What's On team reckons there's plenty of contenders for the gong: Ida's in Didsbury, Captain Cod in Eccles (once frequented by David Beckham), Green Lane Chippy in Leigh, Altrincham Fish Bar, the Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant in Bolton - not mention the likes of Kingfisher on Tib Street, Wright's on Cross Street, or the amazing Cafe Lloyd on Lloyd Street.

And how about travelling gourmet chip van the Hip Hop Chip Shop? Just look at their delicious fare.

(Image: Paul Currie)

Instead, you'll have to travel to Lancaster, Fleetwood, Garstang, Southport, or Warrington if you want a potentially award-winning bag of chips according to the judging panel from seafood authority Seafish - which organises the annual gongs.

And it looks like a pattern is emerging. Manchester was overlooked by last year's awards also, with Hodgson's Chippy in Lancaster taking the regional title and restaurants in Cheltenham and Devon claiming the overall national award and independent restaurant prize.

Which is particularly upsetting when you consider that Oldham currently claims the crown for INVENTING the fried chip, at Tommyfield Market in 1860 - and it has the blue plaque to prove it.

(Image: Giggy (via Wikimedia))

If this result has you choking on your batter scraps, then we'd like you to nominate your favourite chippy on our Twitter and Facebook pages, or in the comments box below, telling us where they are and why they're the best.

And if you want to see what your chippy is up against, you can check out the north west England regional finalists here:

Hodgson's Chippy , 96 Prospect Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 3BH

Pisces , 92 Poulton Road, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6TF

The Fish and Chip Plaice , 75 Hazelhurst Drive, Garstang, Lancashire, PR3 1TN

Fylde Fish Bar , 117 Fylde Road, Marshside, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9XP

Papas , 68 School Brow, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2TA

The Big Blue , 177 Knutsford Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 2QL