COUNTY Durham business leaders have hailed an innovative scheme designed to help firms in the county a major success.

The nationwide scheme allocates business advisors to work with specific businesses to help them grow.

The mentor scheme, run by the Chester-le-Street and City of Durham Enterprise Agency,has been taken up by IT, retail, manufacturing and service companies.

One business to take advantage of the scheme is The Corner Shop, in Durham.

Owner Michael Costello said: "We opened The Corner Shop eight months ago, but sadly we suffered a fire which devastated the premises. Thankfully, our mentor was there to help and advise us on what we can do to get back on track.

"It has been a great help to bounce ideas off people who have a wealth of experience," he said.

Keith Nixon, the mentor helping The Corner Shop, said: "To lose so much in such a short space of time is a bitter blow. But I would look upon it as a new opportunity for the business to come back even stronger."

Anyone interested in becoming a business mentor or would like to have a mentor to help their own business should call 0191-389 2648