TALENTED teenagers have pooled their skills to set up their own business venture which could prove more than a paper exercise.

Girls from Sunnydale School, in Shildon, launched their own stationery company which they hope will prove both profitable and successful in the BBC Zip Challenge, a competition aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs.

Sunnydale, which is preparing a bid for business and enterprise college status, is the only school in the North-East to add the subject to its curriculum.

Four of the team are following a national entrepreneurship course, and three other students have brought their expertise in design, mathematics and business studies to the venture.

Initially, the business will offer items including business cards, personalised letterheads, envelopes and compliment slips, and will target school staff and students.

In time, the girls, who are aged 14 and 15, aim to extend their product range and customer base.

Before launching the venture, they drew up a fully costed business plan and have gathered the start-up capital they need.

Sunnydale Stationers manager Katy Hillary said: "We chose a stationary business because it seemed to us to be the most interesting, with a lot of creative input. The different team members all bring different skills to the business."

The girls hope to pass on the venture to younger students when they leave school in 15 months' time.

Les Dobson, the teacher responsible for the course, said: "The girls have impressed everyone with their knowledge of what it takes to set up a well thought through business."

The first of what could be a number of spin-off enterprises, called Family Fotos, is due to be launched next month