FAMILY, friends and fellow traders lined the seafront to pay their respects to a much-loved chip shop owner who passed away earlier this year.

Antonios Zinonos, known as Tony, was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather as well as a well-known friendly face on Southend’s seafront for more than 30 years.

Known for his flat cap, Mr Zinonos opened Ye Olde Chippy, in Marine Parade, in 1983. He grew it from a small takeaway to a seafront institution and one of the most popular fish and chip shops in the town.

Family and friends gathered for a procession past his shop before the funeral at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Barbaras, in Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff.

Daughter Ellie, 45, said: “He had a very warm and funny character and loved to entertain. That’s why he was so well known because he had so much energy.”

Tony died of cancer on February 28, at the age of 86.