Sisters chip in to celebrate pince's help

Enterprise Works is launched today to celebrate 21 years of young people who have overcome barriers to start up in business with the charity.

Julie Owens and Annette Dunn met its patron, Prince Charles, at an event in London last week - more than two decades after they started The Royale Chip Shop, in Trimdon Grange, County Durham.

Mrs Owens still remembers when she first met the prince and he handed over the cheque that helped the girls start up their business.

She said: "When the Prince of Wales founded the business programme in 1983, he came to visit Trimdon.

"It was a big thing in the pit village and very nerve-wracking."

The girls decided to apply for a grant to branch out on their own after their mother suggested it.

Mrs Owens said: "We ran the chip shop for nearly 18 months, working constantly from first thing in the morning till last thing at night.

"We learned to be independent and to stand on our own feet."

She said people seemed to like the shop, but they decided to sell it as a going concern with all the fixtures and fittings.

Mrs Owens said: "Working for ourselves meant we had the responsibility of making it work. It was hard.

"Having your own business makes you more confident because you're doing everything. You've got to be strong."

The national photographic exhibition starts in London and begins a UK tour early next year.

The sisters' chip shop is among 21 businesses being showcased to represent more than 60,000 started by The Prince's Trust since the business programme started.

David Beavis, The Prince's Trust regional director for the North-East, said: "We are delighted that Julie and Annette have been chosen to represent the 21st anniversary of our business programme. All 21 businesses are role models for future young entrepreneurs and represent the breadth and depth of the more than 60,000 young people who we have helped start in business since 1983."