I RECENTLY met up with a group of friends for a spring walk along the John Muir Way from Dirleton village along glorious sandy beaches and through golden yellow fields of rape.

There was a reward in store to entice us – the reason I joined in the first place: a delicious, freshly fried lemon sole and chips at the North Berwick Fry.

You may know I have a vested interest in East Lothian fish and chip shops.

My family, economic migrants from southern Italy, started one of the very first over a hundred years ago in Cockenzie. Their descendants and compatriots now run most of the amazing chippies in the county.

I think we all agree they are a national treasure and, using only locally landed fish and freshly dug potatoes, an economic and social benefit.

But all is not well. Due to Brexit, fuel costs and sea stocks, the price of fish is at an all-time high.

Fuel, heat, and transport costs are spiralling. Potato crops damaged by dry weather, spiralling fertiliser costs and shortages of labour are expected to push prices upwards of 30 per cent this year.

Overheads in the form of rates, taxes and minimum wage add a further challenge to profits.

Now, due to the drastic and terrible situation in Eastern Europe, sunflower oil is becoming impossible to source and alternative, more expensive oils will need to be sourced.

East Lothian rapeseed oil will command a good price and we can also expect to see fields of sunflowers in our county.

All this has become a perfect storm for our chippies. Due to this extraordinary situation, their proven successful business model is threatened on several fronts. Many doubt if they can survive.

The authorities should step up and pay attention. Help is needed to protect these local, well-loved assets that provide countless hot meals to our citizens every day.

If something is not done, and business support organised, we may end up losing the very soul on our high streets. Not a happy thought.