STEVE Clarke has given up high finance to become the Codfather of Chepstow's chippies.

After 21 years as a banker, looking after 40 clients with turnovers of up to £1 million, Steve knew it was time to hang up his suit and pack away his briefcase.

Now, instead of cooking up high-flying deals, he spends his time cooking cod and chips. Steve, 40, from Newport, became the proud owner of two Hungry Soles fish and chip shops in Chepstow's town centre.

He said: "I wanted a chance to express myself. "I never got the chance to do that in banking because I had to look after the interests of my employers and their clients."

Steve left his job as a business banking manager for a high street bank in December and opened his own business in February.

He said his chance to be his own boss came after a client of a colleague said he was selling up his takeaway and restaurant business.

Mr Clarke said: "I thought fish and chips would always be in demand. "I see it as a good business investment and one where I could apply my knowledge in business."

Since taking over the business, he has redecorated the two premises, invested in new equipment and made small changes to the menus on offer.

But he said it hasn't all been smooth running - especially as he opened just four weeks before the foot-and-mouth crisis was discovered.

He said: "We have been hard hit by the foot-and-mouth effects on tourism. Because race days were lost as a result we lost 25 per cent of our expected turnover." But Mr Clarke, who now employs 14 staff and sells a tonne of chips, eight stones of fish and 400 cups of tea and coffee a week, is an optimist.

He said: "It was a bit of a shock, but I haven't had time to get complacent. Things can only get better."