SOME of the region's top entrepreneurs have been selected to go forward to the Northern regional finals of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

The North-East finalists are among 38 for the Northern region, with the winner receiving his award at the Palace Hotel, Manchester, on June 20.

The national final in London follows on October 7, with the winner representing the UK at the international awards in Monte Carlo next year.

The regional finalists are Tony Thompson (business products section), Chey Garland (business services), Duncan Bannatyne and David Charlton (consumer services), and John Hays (master section).

Mr Thompson began his career as an apprentice welder before setting up ALM products in 1994 making cubicle hardware and cloakroom furniture at Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Bannatyne began his business career as an ice cream salesman on the streets of Glasgow. He now operates the UK's largest independent health club chain, Bannatyne Fitness, with 19 clubs and more than 45,000 members.

Chey Garland, chief executive of Garlands Call Centres, started out as a tea girl before launching a credit collection agency. She then moved the company into outsourced customer services. Ms Garland now employs more than 1,300 staff at two sites in Hartlepool providing call centre services for blue chip companies.

John Hays, director of Hays Travel, worked in his family's consumer credit business, before setting up Hays Travel in 1986. It is the country's largest independent travel agency.

Mr Charlton, chairman of The Officers Club, established the retail business in 1992. It now has 180 stores and an annual turnover of £81m.

Mark Hatton, entrepreneurial services partner at Ernst and Young, Newcastle, said: "I am delighted that we have such strong contenders from the North-East going through to the regional finals.