A woman from the region has been crowned one of the country's unsung business heroes after setting up a cleaning service.

Diane Drysdale overcame financial problems and ill-health to open the service, which she set up ten months ago and which employs seven people.

The 43-year-old from Stockton came in the top 30 in the Government-backed awards, called Trading Places.

Her business has three major contracts and it is applying for Investor in People accreditation.

Ms Drysdale, who is expecting her first child later this year, described opening her business as the best thing she had ever done.

The Trading Places Awards were launched last month by the Department for Work and Pensions and reward unemployed people who have turned their lives around by opening their own business.