AFTER 12 and half years, the people behind one of Launceston’s fish and chip shops have decided to close.

Chris Sawle and partner Lynda Osborne, who run the Codfather at Newport, are leaving this month — the last day will be Saturday, November 5.

Mr Sawle said the ‘overheads are too high’, adding: “We’ve become non-viable.”

Current health issues are also behind the decision, with Mr Sawle adding: “The circumstances are beyond our control. We are unable to continue.

“We wanted to say thank you very much to all our customers over the years.”

Mr Sawle said he and his partner had ‘never’ run a fish and chip shop before the Codfather.

They came to run it after attending a dinner in Torquay to celebrate Lynda’s 30 years with Unigate/Dairy Crest.

Mr Sawle described the food at the event as ‘nouvelle cuisine’, adding: “By the time we got back to Launceston, I was hungry!

“There was a blackboard in the chip shop saying shop and car park to let.

“We took on a gamble and here we are today. It’s just a shame it’s coming to an end.”

The shop will be open normal hours up to and including November 5.

They will still live locally, and Mr Sawle said customers should ‘keep their eye out in the new year’. He added: “We could be back somewhere sooner than you think.”