FOR businesswoman Maureen Stanton, starting her own enterprise on her doorstep was a natural choice, because she was living in scenic Weardale.

But it was not just the rural setting that convinced her to open a call centre in a former works canteen on the Weardale Steel site, in Wolsingham.

On-Net Communications provides services for national companies as a telemarketing and inquiry line and acts as a helpdesk or reception service for smaller companies not looking to employ their own call team.

Ms Stanton hopes to open further centres in other Weardale villages, including Stanhope, and in nearby Tow Law and Alston, in Cumbria, to spread the success of her enterprise. She said the population of hard-working, enthusiastic people and the support available made the site a wise business move.

"I don't want the Dale to lose its young people because there are no jobs to stay for," she said.

Speedy access to the Internet and a top communications network were also vital for the business to work, so the Department of Trade and Industry paid for a satellite link to provide instant Broadband communication.

It was one of seven key projects identified by a task force planning its revival after a series of job losses and the disaster of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Ms Stanton said: "Broadband helps us to be more efficient, so call staff can be on the telephone and Internet at the same time, and whatever information we need is there instantly."

Main funding sources are the Small Business Service, the County Durham Development Company and Wear Valley District Council. The company will receive £400,000 to recoup start-up costs once it employs 22 people.