Two York ventures, both relying on images for profits, took joint first prize in the York and North Yorkshire regional Shell Livewire competition.

They won £750 each, and shared the title of York and North Yorkshire Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

They were Liquid Images, Yorkshire landscape photograph specialists of Kyme Street, run by Becky Quartermaine and Tom Lambert; and "59", of Spen Lane, through which Leo Warner and Robert Sharp offer graphic design services for printed media, stage and screen.

Both were selected from six finalists displaying their wares at the Monk Bar Hotel for the judges, all of whom had themselves been Shell Livewire finalists in the past.

They were Andy Milson, of York publishers Stone Soup; Peter Harrington, managing director of Questions Answered of York; and Julian Gladwyn, partner at Game Station, the 2002 Evening Press Business of the Year.

The prize fund was sponsored by York businesses and organisations. They included City of York Council; York and North Yorkshire Business Link; solicitors' practices Langleys, Ware & Kay and Harrowell Shaftoe; chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott; marketing experts Questions Answered; and advisory service the York, Selby and Malton BAC Ltd.

Runner-up was website design outfit Jonathan Irvine.com, which received a cheque for £400; and three third prize winners, each winning £200, were Richard Fenwick, of Jazzy Disc which from the Fishergate Centre, York markets advertising discs for plant pots as well as a weed depressant gel; Simon Bull of Yard Renovation, also based at the Fishergate Centre, which transforms rough back yards into cosy sellable nooks; and Kieron McSherry, of Solid Soul, near Skipton, who designs and makes concrete furniture.

Updated: 08:43 Tuesday, April 22, 2003