A PROJECT to help residents start up their own businesses in one of County Durham's most deprived estates is proving a success.

The People's Learning and Community Enterprise (Place) is the result of local organisations coming together to help give budding entrepreneurs in Chester-le-Street's Avenues Estate a kick-start.

Notorious across the region for high unemployment, poverty and petty crime, Chester West is trying to put its appalling image behind it.

Chester-le-Street District Council gave up one of its council homes, 14 Third Avenue, for the scheme and it now houses a number of organisations that give their time, support and advice.

Linda Ferguson, of Chester-le-Street and Durham Enterprise Agency, is there to help people thinking about setting up business or becoming self-employed.

She said yesterday: "We are here to make people more aware of self-employment as an option.

We hope we can show people some of the businesses they can set up for themselves, for example gardening, painting and decorating or hairdressing.

"Some people with skills are not even aware they have these skills, or don't realise their potential.

"By having this house in the heart of the estate, it's a great way for us to bring our enterprise to them, rather than they coming to us. This way we are on tap - they can see our faces."

One of the Avenues residents who went to Place for help is Lynn Dryden.

She said: "I have worked on a dairy farm for eight years, but I was doing a course in holistic therapy services at the same time.

"As part of my course I had to do a business plan, so I went to Third Avenue for help and they told me to return if I ever wanted to start my own business.

"I went back two weeks later and got loads of advice, and now I've started my own business in reflexology, aromatherapy and massage, which is proving very successful."

Other partners at Place include the Workers' Educational Association, which provides training and leisure courses at grassroots level, and Durham Co-operative Development Association, which helps people create community businesses.