STUDENTS have taken part in a business battle in a north Durham market place.

Eleven Year 10 students from Hermitage Academy, Chester-le-Street, took part in MyBnk’s Enterprise Educational Programme, Business Battle.

Students pitched their ideas to secure a zero per cent loan of up to £40 in the project, which saw them go from the drawing board to Chester-le-Street’s Market Place in one week.

The programme included an introduction that inspired them to generate their own ideas, covered the target audience’s wants and needs and refined it into a final design, before the bought the products.

Teams then advertised and sold their products.

Team CCAB borrowed £13.70 to fund their idea of handmade cards and personalised baubles. They paid their loan back after making a gross profit of £54.70.

Team Christmas Stars borrowed £28.81 to fund their idea of making cakes, brownies and made a gross profit of £46.

Team Snowed In borrowed £11.11 to sell snow shovels, sledges and handmade baubles. They made a gross profit of £31.10.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the Mybnk project run by the charity Five Lamps should contact Jenny Donaldson on 01642-702712 or teesvalley@mybnk.org.