BOSSES at an East Lancashire exercise equipment firm had their breath taken away when they scooped one of the top prizes in a television business contest.

Blackburn firm Shapemaster Fitness won £25,000 for coming second in Granada's tough Flying Start enterprise competition last night.

The Glenfield Park firm also won £2,500 for coming up with the best business plan.

Delighted partner Howard Blackburn said: "It's absolutely excellent. We knew we had got to the last three but you always tend to be a little bit pessimistic."

Mr Blackburn, who runs the business with David Winchester, said Shapemaster had done so well because of its wide product range and growth potential.

The firm, employing 30, designs and manufactures fitness machines, toning tables and weight stacks for use by businesses such as hotels, sport centres, gyms and football clubs.

Mr Blackburn added: "The fitness industry is dominated at the moment by America but we are now in a position to go out and make a big impact.

"We've just got an order worth £250,000 from Germany."

Flying Start's £50,000 first prize was won by Welsh company Camelot Corporation which makes bouncy castles.

Mark Price, ELTEC chief executive, presented a special award of £5,000 each to two other companies who had shown commitment to training

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