BUDDING entrepreneurs from Burnley have entered the Dragons' Den to take up a challenge from retail king Theo Paphitis.

Rymans boss Theo appeared via a video link to give students at Hameldon Community College their task - design and market a product linked to next year’s Olympics.

The Burnley superschool is one of five picked across the north to take part in a Back to School competition ahead of the show’s new series.

Each ‘dragon’ will mentor their Year 10 team, in advance of the all-important pitch, before the assembled experts, who will include regulars Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Duncan Bannatyne and newcomer Hilary Devey.

Headteacher Gill Broom said: "We are thrilled to have been chosen as one of five schools to take part in this project.

“This is an excellent idea for encouraging enterprise skills among young people. Our students are really looking forward to giving it their best.”

The Hameldon outfit will be competing against rival schools from Bolton, Bradford, Lincoln and Sunderland.

Launching the Burnley task, Theo said: “My mailbox and post is stuffed full of messages from school children who are budding entrepreneurs.

“Anything that assists them in a practical way is going to be incredibly helpful, so it is great to be supporting the Dragons’ Den Goes Back to School initiative.”

While the pitches take place at the end of June, once business cases have been prepared, in a new twist the young whizzkids will not learn if they have been successful until a special Dragons’ Den screening at the new Media City in Salford Quays in July.

No money will be forthcoming for the winning idea but awards will be handed out for the best idea and pitch.

Burnley-born Peter Salmon, BBC North director said: “Dragons’ Den has been one of the biggest success stories of the last decade and it's great we can use our flagship programmes to engage audiences of all ages.”