YOUNG entrepreneurs have won the North West final of a business competition after producing a board game that netted a huge dividend for shareholders.

The Paragon Young Enterprise team from Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, devised the game Witchways, depicting the history and culture of the Ribble Valley.

The game caught the eye of Cherie Blair when the youngsters visited Downing Street last year.

And chemical giant ICI recently ordered a batch as corporate toys for top clients.

Paragon has also produced an American-style leavers book available in print or on CD-Rom.

Now the firm has come out tops in the regional final of Young Enterprise at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

Young Enterprise offers youngsters between 15 and 19 the chance to run their own mini-firms with help from local businesses. Paragon recently announced a turnover of £8,290 and a £14 dividend for pupil shareholders who invested £2 each.

Ribblesdale High School Young Enterprise co-ordinator Neil Ashworth said competition at the Preston event was "awesome".

"The East Lancashire final was tough enough, but this was something else. To have won is phenomenal. The pupils have worked tremendously hard and were outstanding at Preston," he said.

He thanked Paragon's business advisors from Clitheroe firm Rectella International.

Paragon now goes forward to the UK finals of Young Enterprise at the Commonwealth Institute, London.

The firm's 24 members are looking forward to an all expenses paid trip to the capital for the event in July.

If successful, they will take part in a European final of Young Enterprise in Sweden later in the year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.