STUDENTS from the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School did the county proud in the area final of this year's Young Enterprise competition.

Although unsuccessful, the team performed 'magnificently', eventually losing out to a college based in south Worcestershire.

The budding Richard Bransons took part in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Board Finals in Malvern after winning the Herefordshire event at The Courtyard earlier this month.

'Cultivate', the business run by Bishops' pupils, claimed the BT Trophy as the county's overall winners along with the M&M Sports Ltd Best Marketing Company award and the Mercian Lifting Gear Ltd Marketing shield.

Run by a group of nine young ladies, aged 14 and 15, Bishops' YE company was set up in September last year producing and selling a wide range of plants and decorated pots.

They won the Best Customer Care award at Young Enterprise's Spring Trade Fair in March and can be seen selling their goods at a weekend stall outside Rockfields DIY store.

Other award winners at the Herefordshire event included New Moon Enterprises, involving students from the Royal National College for the Blind, Buzz Publications from Herefordshire College of Technology and Potty Crafts from Barrs Court School.

Brian Stephens, chairman of the Herefordshire Young Enterprise Board, said: "The innovation, inspiration and entrepreneurial spirit that these young achievers have displayed bodes well for a prosperous economic future for businesses in this area and for the UK as a whole."

Young Enterprise is a national education charity founded in 1963 to forge links between schools and industry.

Its mission is to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise.