THREE East Lancashire entrepreneurs are set to take on their counterparts from across the North West.

Budding young businessmen and women are taking part in the Shell LiveWire Young Business Person of the year contest.

LiveWire is national scheme which encourages and helps people aged between 16-30 to start up and develop their own businesses.

And 13 of the best ventures set up under the scheme are taking part in the regional finals being staged on April 18 in Manchester.

They include Karen Jones, 30, who has launched her own florist business called Pick of the Bunch in Darwen.

And Tom and Coleen Sleigh, both 30, are also in the finals with their Sleighs Restaurant in Haslingden.

The regional winner of the contest will receive a cheque for £1,000 and a place in the national finals which carries a top prize of £10,000.

Other prizes of £750 and £500 will also be presented to firms which have made a special achievement in areas including innovation, customer service and job creation.

Judges of the contest include Linda Kirkman of ELTEC.

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