Chippy offers food for a penny to mark D-Day

Leoni Lambrou says workers at the family-run chippy were up with the lark to prepare 900 portions of fish and chips

A Black Country chippy is marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day by offering portions of the nation's favourite takeaway for a penny.

Queues of customers keen to bag a bargain built up outside Merchants in Halesowen an hour before it opened at midday.

Leoni Lambrou from the family-run firm said her late great-grandfather George, had fought in World War Two.

"What they had back then, we're just giving it back to the community," she said.

Queues outside the chippy started building an hour before it opened

"Before he passed he used to tell us all the time it was a lot of hard work."

The offer also ties in with an industry-led national fish and chip day.

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, ministers made sure fish and chips was one of the few dishes never rationed during World War Two.

Ms Lambrou said workers had made up takeaway boxes the previous night and been in since "God knows what time this morning".

About 900 portions of fish and chips had been prepared, with the offer running until stocks ran out.

"There's a massive queue still going and going and going," Ms Lambrou said, adding she had "lost count" of the numbers already served.

"We’re gaining customers at the same time so we're excited to see new faces and just have a chat with people... everybody's really, really happy about it."

Customers flocked to pick up a cheap as chips bargain

Wartime memories captured by the BBC suggested a typical portion in war-torn London cost about threepence - slightly more than one post-decimalisation penny.

Merchants is also collecting donations from customers for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.