FISH and chip shop chain Harry Ramsden's has been snapped up by a rival restaurant.

Deep Blue Restaurants will take over Harry Ramsden's 34 sites, as well as its brand, in a debt free deal.

Harry Ramsdens - which has a store in Marine Parade - was previously owned by the Boparan Restaurant Group, which also controls Ed's Easy Diner and Giraffe.

The sale comes after a period of slow decline for the Yorkshire business, as the casual dining sector continues to battle rising costs and falling footfall.

Deep Blue has more than 20 restaurants, predominantly in the south and east of England.

Tom Crowley, chief executive officer of Boparan Restaurant Group, said: "This is an important strategic move for BRG and one which enables us to simplify our future business and allow us to focus on the opportunities for our core brands of Giraffe, Ed's Easy Diner, Fishworks and the roll out of Slim Chickens, whilst still retaining an ongoing interest in the fish and chip sector."

Harry Ramsden's was started 90 years ago in West Yorkshire but has struggled recently, after falling to a £5 million loss in its most recently filed accounts and closing a number of restaurant sites.

Boparan Restaurant Group said it will retain an interest in the enlarged business as part of the move.

The move will also see Boparan Restaurant Group, which owns other chains such as Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner, exit the business after more than nine years.

Earlier this year, the restaurant arm of Ranjit Boparan's business empire, announced the closure of 27 of its 70 Giraffe and Ed's sites as part of a major restructuring.

Boparan has also sold other parts of its overall business in recent years, such as Goodfella's frozen pizzas and the red meat division of Two Sisters, in a bid to improve its finances.