THE write stuff!

That's jubilant teenagers of Castlebrook High School who have achieved a unique hat-trick in Bury's annual Young Enterprise awards.

A dozen pupils who wrote and produced their own Adult's Guide to Teenagers, scooped the "best overall company" award at the Young Enterprise 2001 finals.

In January, the same squad who operate their own "4U2NV" mini-company, lifted the top Young Enterprise prize at the interim awards presentation.

And to complete a remarkable triple success, 16-year-old managing director Kieran O'Flaherty won the Dale Carnegie Scholarship which involves a 13-week business course worth £1,800.

Days after Hollywood stage its glittering Academy Awards, it was the turn of Bury's young business boffins to hold their own "Oscars" ceremony at Bury's Elizabethan Suite.

Ten squads, drawn from schools and colleges throughout the borough, set up stalls to display the range of goods they have manufactured and sold since September. Each of the mini-companies also gave a five-minute presentation on stage in front of the judges before the winners were announced.

Now, Castlebrook's award-winning squad will fly the flag for the borough at the regional Young Enterprise awards in Wigan on May 16.

For their Young Enterprise stint, pupils had concentrated on putting together an up-to-the-minute problem tackling and fun handbook to accompany the often troublesome teenage years.

The Adult's Guide to Teenagers manual also deals with a range of hard-hitting issues such as drugs, sex, bullying and alcohol as well as fashion, TV and music, all aimed at adults.

Kieran said: "We've sold 400 of the 600 copies printed and if we sell out completely we could have a second print run.

"The guide is available in local libraries and doctors' surgeries and can be ordered through the school.

"And we've also written to retail outlets, including W.H. Smith and Waterstones, to ask if they can stock the handbook," he disclosed.

Commenting on Tuesday's triumph, Kieran went on: "When we won the top award in January, I thought we'd been counted out from winning the finals this time around.

"I believed the judges would try to be fair by giving the award to another squad. It's excellent for all of us who have been involved in the handbook, the school and our link teacher Miss Maria Panayi."

And the teacher was equally delighted with the efforts of her pupils. "They did amazingly well. They worked hard and really deserved this."

Bury College's squad Blue Moon won the Team Enterprise award and Ashley Beedaysee of Bury Grammar School's M3 mini-company lifted the Young Achiever award, sponsored by Select Education.

Bury C of E High School's Children of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust scooped the Best Presentation award.

But there was some consolation for those mini-companies who lost out on the accolades.

Young Enterprise development manager Mrs Charlotte Chadwick told them: "All of you are genuine winners."

Young Enterprise aims to help young people learn vital business skills needed by today's employers, including communication, team work and decision making.