Forget dig for victory – we want you to scoff chips for your country and save your local chippy.

Now the Daily Star campaign to back the great British chip shop has new momentum, with World War Two-style backing from America set to stop the takeaways being battered into extinction.

Hake imported from the US in a £1.2billion rescue mission could help prevent half of our chippies – hit by soaring costs and supply shortages – closing over the next two years.

READ MORE: Daily Star says 'Your Chippy Needs You' as half of shops face closure by 2025

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) visited Oregon in the US last month as part of a UK delegation.

He said: “We’ve got to explore alternatives because it’s the right thing to do to protect the fish and chip industry.”

Hake and rockfish are abundant on America’s west coast and both taste similar to cod.

Mr Crook added: “Independent businesses are just about keeping their head above water.

“If we lose these businesses, we’ll never get them back.”

On National Fish and Chip Day on Friday (June 2) our readers headed in their droves to scoff chips and help turn the tide on chippy closures.

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Mr Crook added: “People could show up and visit their local takeaways more often in order to help them.

“They are not faceless corporations, there are families behind them struggling to cope.”

Figures suggest even two extra visits per year by all customers could stop further closures.

A spokesman for the NFFF said chippies had fed Britain for more than 160 years, adding: “It is important we protect these families’ businesses so we wholeheartedly support the Daily Star’s initiative.”

Meanwhile, vinegar brand Sarson’s pledged to give away one tonne of chippy meals and unveiled a golden chip statue.

Vanni Cataldi, of Sarson’s, said: “Together we can batter this crisis, one chip at a time.”

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