CLEVER, these Chinese. When Charlie's Chips at Harwood changed hands recently the sign outside was amended with maximum economy.

Three letters simply became surplus to requirements when the Lee Gate business was transformed into Chae's Chips.

Former owner Charlie Cummins has sold the award-winning business he developed over several years. It is now a second venture for Chukh Khuan Chae, whose other shop in Tonge Moor Road, Bolton was established in 1971.

He came to Britain from Malayia in 1964 and worked at first in a Manchester restaurant.

The family business has developed successfully since his arrival in Bolton.

One Canon Slade-educated son, Andrew, now runs the Tonge Moor Road premises and another, Stephen, looks after the Harwood acquisition with his wife Lisa.

Another brother, Peter, is at university and sister Julie is at Withins School. Andrew said: "We just wanted to swap the letters about at Harwood so people would know it had changed hands. We might think about a different sign later."

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