Discos, bouncy castles and hand-painted furniture have propelled two up and coming business entrepreneurs into the final of a countywide competition.

Lee Hayward, of St Osyth, and Tess Harden, of Holland-on-Sea, are two new businesses representing Tendring in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Essex.

Bee-Line Entertainment, owned by Mr Hayward, of Withrick Walk, provides discos and bouncy castles. Mr Hayward, 23, has celebrated the first birthday of his business and has inflated his number of bouncy castles from five to 17.

With his children Levi and Harrison to look after, Lee left his job as an entertainer for Tower Holiday Park, Jaywick, to start off on his own business.

He said: "Last year was a real test. Hopefully, I can make some proper money this year. If I win I'll invest the money into the business."

Little Treasures, run by Tess Harden, 27, of Salisbury Road, makes children's furniture and is in the pre-trading category.

She said: " I bought some undecorated furniture for my daughter from Ikea and then worked on it. My friends loved it and then it all snowballed from there. Ideally I'd like to start a shop in Frinton."

The entries will be judged on Wednesday at County Hall in Chelmsford.

The winning business will receive £1,000 with £4,000 worth of cash prizes being handed out by Shell UK and Essex County Council.

Published Thursday, March 7, 2002