A NEW fish and chip shop drive-through - believed to be the first in Dorset and the second in the country - has opened in Ferndown.

Owners of the family-run Karsberg Fish and Chips business have unveiled their new drive-through, at the rear of the property, as part of a £35,000 investment aimed at improving trade and helping some of their older customers.

Phil Karsberg, 35, who has owned and run the business with his mother Julie Karsberg for the last six years, has also bought a new van signposting the company as well as new building signs.

The only other such fish and chip drive-through Mr Karsberg has found is located in York, he said.

"As far as I know we're the second in the country but we are the first in Dorset," he said.

"We have a lot of elderly customers. One of them, who we see every day, uses a stick. We're just trying to keep up with the times.

"Starbucks has opened up nearby and we're smack bang in the middle of both KFC and McDonald's. And we were in a position to do it so we just thought we'd jump at the chance.

"We have got a 360 degree carpark so we wanted to make full use of it.

"A lot of places don't have the ability to do what we have done. If people order food that isn't ready then we ask them to park up and we'll bring it out to them, just like McDonald's would."

Mr Karsberg said the business is already trading very well but hopes the drive-through will take them to "another level".

He added: "I didn't tell anybody about it when we opened last Monday (NOV 7) so that we could muddle through. The word is quickly getting round and people are using it every day.

"Every customer has said 'wow, this is amazing'. We have had great feedback."