A TEENAGE falconer, who began his career training owls for the Harry Potter films, has started the 700th business in County Durham to be helped by The Prince's Trust.
Michael Taylor, of Kirk Merrington, near Spennymoor, accepted an award from the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, in Durham County Hall to mark the event.
His business, MT Avian Control, was started this month with the help of a £1,500 loan from the trust's Business Start-up programme
He hopes his clients will be mainly landfill operators who need to comply with health and safety regulations limiting the number of feeding birds, and he will use his falcon to scare the birds away.
Sir Paul said: "Michael is an example of a young man who has a vision and a hobby. He is combining what he loves doing with setting up a business."
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