A RADCLIFFE-based company selling black puddings on the internet has been named one of the UK's top ten start-up businesses.

Although Debbie Pierce's Bury Black Pudding Company/ failed to win the title outright, her firm will benefit from £4,000 worth of consultancy services.

Bury Black Pudding Company featured in the national top ten in HSBC's national search for the UK's top entrepreneurs. The awards are designed to inspire and encourage others thinking about going it alone.

Trophy

More than 500 new businesses entered the competition and Debbie, a director, accepted her trophy in front of 250 leading businessmen and women at London's Savoy Hotel. The company also received £4,000 worth of consultancy services, courtesy of business specialists Croner Consulting and software company Intuit.

While Debbie, of Waterside Close, Radcliffe, was working at a farmers market stall selling the puddings, she was always amazed at how many people would visit from all over the country to buy the local delicacy.

With the launch of the dot.com revolution, Debbie kept thinking how the Internet could tap into a huge underdeveloped market of potential customers.

The daunting prospect of going it alone kept stopping her. But when her friend Charlotte Butterfield, now her business partner, bought Debbie the website domain name and told her to "follow your dreams", she decided to put the doubts aside and take the plunge.

The Bury Black Pudding Company launched last year on a shoestring budget of £1,000. Her biggest breakthrough came when she persuaded Asda to stock the black pudding.

And sales through just four stores have exceeded everyone's expectations and ASDA are now planning to roll out to 75 stores.With a turnover of £29,000 in year one, projected sales for the second year are already £500,000 and Debbie has ambitious plans for the future -- not least the ultimate goal of developing a £10 million plus brand.

John Rendall, head of HSBC business banking said: "The Bury Black Pudding Company should be justly proud of reaching the top ten of the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards".