YOUNG entrepreneurs sparkled in a competition which challenges students to run their own business.

Students at Bury College on the Foundation Studies course won with the best presentation at the Young Enterprise awards, held at Bolton College.

They have been taking part in a project which sees students launch their own business, and set up Diamonds, which sold treats and products throughout the year.

The students told the audience how they ran their business, and delivered their speech in the style of television’s The Royle Family, after tutors had shown them DVDs of the sitcom.

Paul Ainsley, aged 22, was the manager of Diamonds, and took on the role of Jim Royle, made famous by actor Ricky Tomlinson, pictured. Paul said: “The best bit was dressing up as our characters. I was so excited to hear that we had won, and ran straight up to the stage to celebrate!”

Participants on the course, which gives students with learning difficulties the skills to carry out work-related tasks and gain social skills, were also assisted in their work during a weekly visit from a business adviser from O2, which supports the Young Enterprise charity.

Sara Haynes, a business adviser at O2 said: “The students delivered a really different type of presentation which explained their business well but was funny and kept the attention.”