YOUNG firms have been given a boost up the success ladder.

A total of 17 businesses took part in the Livewire East Lancashire finals held at the Berkley Manor, Accrington.

First prize in the existing business category went to Jamie Hall and Esther Rigby of children's furniture and furnishings firm Junior who collected the ELTEC cup, silver plate and £500.

Runners-up were Safina Sajid and Shabana Aslam of Eastern Spice and Mark Yates of Snuggle Beds.

And first prize in the pre-start category was won by Jayne Kipling of Spring Hill Home Care who collected a cup and £150.

Andrew Roberts of the Diet & Exercise Consultancy was second and Paul Magee of IEISE third.

Pictured with the trophies are, from the left, Hyndburn chief executive Mike Chambers, Jayne Kipling, director of Consortium of East Lancashire Enterprise Agencies Ken Whittaker, Mayor of Hyndburn Coun Jean Battle, consortium director Aileen Evans, Esther Rigby, Jamie Hall and Karen Belling of Livewire.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.