A SCHOOL where pupils get a top class lesson in business has produced the best young entrepreneurs in the county for the second successive year.

A group of 15-year-old students from Staindrop Comprehensive School, near Barnard Castle, overcame the challenges of 12 other companies from ten other schools to win Durham's Young Enterprise competition.

Trading under the name of Evolution, the would-be Richard Bransons scooped the top prize after impressing judges with their interactive CD-ROM tourist guides of Teesdale and Weardale and innovative Pom-Pom Pets.

The project started last September, when GCSE and A-Level students aged between 15 and 19 were encouraged to set up and run their own companies.

More than 20 businesses were started. Young people have been attending a range of trade fairs selling goods including glassware, picture frames and pottery.

Evolution is run by a 16-member board of directors who are responsible for everything from selling shares to designing and making the finished products.

So far, the company has performed above the expectations of its young management team, making a profit of over £500.

Evolution finance director James Alderson said: "A lot of us will probably be involved in business in the future. Some could even be running their own companies, so it is good practice."

Last year's County Durham winner was also from Staindrop. Blue Moo, set up by an all-girl group from year ten, has been so successful it now trades as a registered company selling novelty light switch surrounds.

The school is building on its success by bidding for specialist status as a business and enterprise school.

The award for the best company report and finances went to Freestyle, a business from Framwellgate Comprehensive School in Durham, which produces picture frames and greetings cards. Firewall, from St Leonard's, also in Durham, was voted the best for presentation.