business people of the future have been learning the trade at a school enterprise day.

The 130 teenagers set up companies and made and sold colourful paper ducks .

Year 9 students at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, Darlington, were put into groups to appoint a manager, buyer, seller, accountant and production team.

They started off with no money and white paper but after honing their skills they moved onto colourful ducks and trading started.

With each day's profits they bought more colourful paper to produce the types of ducks which were in demand.

Business people and workers attended the event, organised by the Durham Education Business Partnership (DEBP).

Fines were handed out for messy work and arguments and financial bonuses given for team work.

Bill Dale, careers co-ordinator at Hurworth School, said: "The students loved it, they had a really good time. It got very hectic and pupils had to use a lot of initiative.

The winning team, led by Jonathan Weeks, made a profit of £1,200.

It aimed to develop students skills in communication, team management, problem solving, decision making and negotiation.