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

The youngsters, all aged between 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, on May 22.

Young Enterprise 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."

Companies reaching the finals: 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.f/pic Kaleido - Oxford High School, - recorded and produced a CD, Inspired, a collection up and coming local bandsf/pic Blue Hawk - Fitzharry's School - hand-made jewellery Flux - Bloxham School, Bloxham, make 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 - an exclusive Jaramaskah bag which expands from handbag to shopping bag size.