A BUSINESSWOMAN whose clients include the exclusive stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols has won an award.

Tracey Russell, 27, from Esh, in Durham, beat off strong competition to win the Best Cultural and Creative Business Award for her company, Tracey Russell Greetings Cards.

Sponsored by Northern Arts, the prize was part of the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle.

It is six years since Ms Russell started her greetings card business, which generated £17,000 in its first year and is expected to make almost £300,000 for the year 2002-2003.

She employs four full-time staff, three outworkers and 11 agents, who design, manufacture, market and sell between 2,500 and 3,000 cards each week.

She said: "This is a huge achievement for me, stemming from an idea I dreamt up during my college days."

Jane Robinson, director of external relations at Northern Arts, said: "The number of creative businesses in the region is expanding rapidly and it is encouraging to see how many women are leading successful businesses using their creative talents."