A group of teenage entrepreneurs are heading for national stardom after winning a top award.

Jinx, a company run by girls from Oxford High School, claimed the overall title at the south east regional final of the Young Enterprise Awards.

Now they will go on to battle it out against the cream of teenage talent from around the country in the national final next month.

The 18-strong team behind the company wrote, published and distributed their own children's book, Jinx the Magical Cat, and managed to achieve national publicity on Radio 4 as well as appearing in the Oxford Mail.

Company secretary Jenny Boon, 17, said: "It was fantastic to win as some of the other companies were really impressive.

"It is great to be flying the flag for Oxfordshire."

The book is stocked on the Amazon website and is also available at Blackwell's book shop in Oxford.

Graham Varney, managing director of Cowley building firm Benfield & Loxley, who advised Jinx, said: "I am very pleased and the girls were in floods of tears after they won.

"They were very nervous but they have a different product that they have produced entirely on their own and sold to the general public."

Link teacher Mike Gallacher added: "To get this far is superb the girls are enjoying the experience and learning from it."

At the regional final, Jinx also won the award for the best business plan.

Last month it won the Oxfordshire final of the competition, backed by the Oxford Mail, and claimed the award for Best Company Report as well as the overall award at the regional finals.

Although the competition rules state the company must be liquidated at the end of the year, the girls are hopeful of carrying on the Jinx story.

Ms Boon added: "We are looking for a publisher who will be able to take on the book and distribute it nationally."

The national final takes place from July 16-18 at London's Savoy Hotel. And if they win that they will represent the UK in the European competition in Switzerland in August.

Headteacher Felicity Lusk said: "We are tremendously proud of the achievements of Jinx this year. It is so important for our young women to take their place among the young entrepreneurs of the future."

Young Enterprise is seeking volunteers to act as business advisers to young people in schools across the county. For more information, contact Jeffrey Lloyd on 07734 398377.