YOUNG entrepreneurs have only two challenges left in which to wrest this year's Future Business Magnates title from the grasp of students at Framwellgate School, Durham City.

With four of the contest's six challenges completed, the Framwellgate team has a commanding 22-point lead.

The squad has held pole-position since the second round.

However, the Durham Federation, a team made up of former rivals Durham Community Business College and Fyndoune Community Business College, lies second and will be hoping to pip them to the post.

The Federation narrowed the gap at the top by securing first place and 114 points in the latest challenge, which was called Advertise and Flog It and focused on marketing techniques.

The youngsters from Framwellgate School picked up third place and 110 points.

Roseberry Sports and Community College is in third place overall, 44 points behind the Federation, after clinching second spot and 112 points in round four.

Future Business Magnates pairs school teams from the Durham City and Chester-le- Street areas with mentors from businesses over nine months of competition, to put their ideas to the test.

The team from Framwellgate School is working with the Event Durham office at Durham University.

The Durham Federation is paired with the Durham Markets Company.

Roseberry College's team is supported by Durham Business Club.

John Tindale, programme coordinator, said: "With such a high standard of teams and mentors this year, I am not surprised that the competition is so close.

"Just like last year, it looks as if the final places will not be decided until the very last presentation on the final day."

All teams have played their jokers - a tactic which earns them double points from a challenge of their choice - so the final two rounds are a straight contest.

The teams' next challenge will be a full-day workshop on finance, complete with a Dragons' Den-style presentation.

The final presentations will be held at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, on Wednesday, July 2, before the winners are announced that evening.

Last year's winner, Belmont School Community Arts College, is in fourth place, only two points behind Roseberry College.

Future Business Magnates is sponsored by The Northern Echo, Durham City Council, Lafarge and Yorkshire Bank.

The competition is in its third year.