A fashion designer is setting the trend for budding start-up companies in the Tees Valley having been crowned Best New Business at an awards ceremony.

Kate Fearnley, who started her Billingham business of the same name in January last year, specialises in the production of designer clothes from high quality fabrics and sold at high street prices.

She took the overall accolade at the Best New Business Awards 2002, held at Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium, as well as the Young Person Award.

The rapid expansion of the Kate Fearnley label has resulted in the business supplying 35 shops nationally and has meant that she now employs three full-time and two part-time staff.

This is the third year of the Best New Business Awards, which attracted 174 entrants for the ten categories this year.

Colin Brown, of UK IFA NET, was responsible for creating the awards, which were co-promoted by Business Link this year.

Other winners were:

Community Award - Active Media UK, Guisborough;

Cultural Arts & Crafts Award - Ten Feet Tall, Middlesbrough;

Environmental Award - Mark Turnbull Forestry Services, Darlington;

Manufacturing Award - Coverall (PVC & Canvas) Limited, Stockton;

Marketing Award - AFK Electro Vertriebs (UK), Darlington;

Retail Award - MotoX Designs, Hartlepool;

Service Award - RS Cranes and Material Handling Ltd, Middlesbrough;

Technology Award - VTD, Norton, Stockton.