ONE of Britain's leading entrepreneurs last night returned to the school where he was once told he "would never achieve much in life".

Chris Gorman, 36, who has previously won the national Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Businessman of the Year awards, received an award at English Martyrs RC School and Sixth Form College, in Hartlepool.

Headteacher Joe Hughes presented Mr Gorman with an award for outstanding achievement for building his card and gadget shop empire.

It was a far cry from when Mr Gorman, who took five O-levels, received a school report that read: "Will never get on in life unless he applies himself".

He went on to borrow £15,000 and helped to build DX Communications, which was bought by BT Cellnet in 1999 for £42m.

Mr Gorman then went on to establish the Internet service business Reality Group Limited and sold it to Great Universal Stores for £35m.

Last year, he bought the Gadget Shop chain and added the Birthdays chain to his empire in a joint venture with entrepreneur Tom Hunter.

Mr Gorman said: "It is good to go back to the old school although I was a little nervous about it.

"It felt strange this schoolboy shirker returning to his old school to receive an award like this."