Business starters from a North-East college have scooped a top award.

Students at Hartlepool Sixth Form College won the Young Enterprise North-East company of the year for their success in manufacturing and marketing hand-made clothes and jewellery as part of their Sad Cake company.

Students from across the region, who have been running their own businesses over the past academic year as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme, attended the North-East award ceremony in Newcastle last week and made business presentations.

The five area finalists, from Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland, County Durham and the Tees Valley, were judged on financial performance, teamwork business skills and understanding.

Evolution, a business from Staindrop School, County Durham, was runner-up for its interactive tourist CD guide to Teesdale and Weardale.

Young Enterprise North-East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: "I have seen many regional finals across the country as well as here in the North-East, and the students presenting this evening were of the highest standard."

The scheme aims to help young people to understand and value the role of business through practical experience.