SCORES of teenage entrepreneurs from across the county are preparing to do battle today after winning through to the finals of a prestigious business competition.

The youngsters - all aged 16 and 17 - have been competing in the Young Enterprise scheme and will go head to head in the county finals after winning through from their respective areas.

Judges have been delighted with the standard set by the students who were tasked with starting their own businesses last September and developing them throughout the academic year.

The final of the contest, backed by the Oxford Mail, will take place at the Said Business School.

Programme manager Jeff Lloyd said: "The outstanding performance of our students this year says much about their willingness to work hard and use their initiative to achieve excellent results."

The finalists

Chantilly, The School Of St Helen And St Katharine, Abingdon: produces jewellery and hair accessories

Green Vision, Cherwell School, Oxford: An environmental education pack for primary schools

Kawaii, Headington School, Headington: wrote and published a children's book, pictured

Kaleido, Oxford High School: recorded and produced a CD, Inspired, a collection of up and coming local bands

Blue Hawk, Fitzharry's School: hand-made jewellery

Flux, Bloxham School, Bloxham: made eco-friendly, ethically sourced cotton shopping bags

Connected, Chipping Norton School, Chipping Norton: jewellery at affordable prices

Forget Me Not, The School Of St Helen And St Katharine, Abingdon: a bag which expands from handbag to shopping bag size.