The cost of chips is about to rise because of the worst outbreak of blight in the potato crop for five years.

The British Potato Council is reporting a total of 80 cases so far and has identified hotspots in East Anglia, the Midlands and the South West. Blight thrives in warm, wet weather.

The problem is compounded by the devastating flood damage to potato crops in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Humberside. With harvesting not due until September, it is too early to predict the scale of the damage.

In an average year, Britain produces six million tonnes from 3,000 growers in a market that is worth £1.5 billion. Britain also imports 1.4 million tonnes.

The Times has already disclosed the shortage of peas caused by the wet weather and flooding and how other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and French beans will be in short supply and command high prices.

The Office for National Statistics reported in June that food prices were up 4.9 per cent in a year; vegetable prices, including potatoes, were up 9.6 per cent and fish up 12.7 per cent. Bread could also cost more because the wet weather is forecast to depress yields from this year’s wheat crop. There is concern too that supplies of Brussels sprouts will be down.

Stephen Francis, managing director at Fenn Peas, which also supplies a range of green vegetables, said: “There are going to be shortages and shoppers will have to pay more.

“Over the last decade supermarkets and shoppers have got used to the thought that food production is like a ball-bearing factory. It’s not.”

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