TWO beauty businesses have opened in County Durham after receiving funding and support from The Prince's Trust.

Jan Fowler, 23, and her husband, Philip, 29, from Spennymoor, open their salon Beautopia on Saturday, thanks to a £500 grant and £3,500 loan from the trust.

Caroline McMahon, 21, of Croxdale, opened Caroline's Beauty Oasis, in Ferryhill, at the start of the month.

She completed a course in beauty therapy at Bishop Auckland College, but turned to the trust after struggling to get funding from the banks to set up her business. She received a £500 grant and a £2,500 loan through its business programme.

She said: "The trust has helped me with every aspect of getting my business started, from advice on business plans and market research to giving me the funding."

* For information about the trust's programme, which helps 18 to 30-year-olds start their own businesses, visit www.princes-trust.org.uk or call 0800 842 842