A MILLIONAIRE has turned his back on a life in the sun to back budding East Lancashire entrepreneurs in an "Apprentice-style" search for talent.

Ferrari-driving David Walsh has no intention to retire with his millions to his home in Marbella, Spain, but wants to "put something back" into the area by giving financial muscle to the right idea.

The former Blackburn College student has challenged would-be inventors and businessmen to come up with something "a little bit different, a little bit sexy" to swell his fortune -- and make money for the innovator, too.

Blackburn-born Mr Walsh, 36, who made his £10million fortune in everything from film companies to investment funds, said: "I am looking for absolutely anything really, I don't want something there is millions of but something different. Maybe someone has an invention they want to take to the next stage or a good idea that needs backing."

Mr Walsh, who studied for a business diploma at the college after leaving Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, said: "It is really to put something back in. I have a lot of cash and you say to yourself 'What do I do with it?' I am too young to spend the next 40 to 50 years in the sun."

He said the inspiration came from popular TV programmes The Apprentice and Dragons' Den, where business experts put young hopefuls through their paces, often with explosive results.

Yet candidates shouldn't fear a dressing down like the kind given out by The Apprentice's Sir Alan Sugar when they step before the top brass of DCW Private Equity Ltd, Mr Walsh's Preston-based firm.

He said the 15-minute "pitch" would be a more sedate affair, adding: "If you are too aggressive then they are too nervous and that's when you can miss good ideas."

After stints running a Preston accountancy firm, being a partner in a film and TV production company, which sold for 14million dollars to Columbia Pictures, and overseeing the sale of a trust and investment fund, Mr Walsh said he knows the importance of keeping an open mind in business.

He said: "We are an alternative way of raising capital from the traditional route of banks and finance houses that often have very stringent criteria and are not supportive to wacky ideas."

The Formula One fan, who has two Ferraris, a Porsche, a Mercedes and a Range Rover, said a likely starting figure would be between £50,000 and £100,000 and successful candidates would receive full management support.

Contact DCW Private Equity Limited on 0870 1998336 or e-mail ideas@dcwcorporate.com