AT LEAST five young would-be tycoons will be pitching for the title of York and North Yorkshire Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

The competitors, aged between 16 and 30, will take part in the Shell Livewire event at the Monk Bar Hotel, York, on Wednesday, March 26.

The prize of £1,000 is being sponsored by York businesses and organisations.

They include City of York Council, York and North Yorkshire Business Link, solicitors' practices Langleys, Ware & Kay and Harrowell Shaftoe, chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott, advisory service the York, Selby and Malton BAC Ltd, and marketing experts Questions Answered.

Those submitting details of their young ventures include:

- Jonathan Irvine, who runs an internet and design service at Heslington

- Becky Quartermaine, of Liquid Images, a Yorkshire landscape photograph specialist of Kyme Street, York

- Richard Fenwick, of Jazzy Discs, which from the Fishergate Centre, York, markets advertising discs for plant pots, as well as a weed-depressant gel

- Simon Bull, also of the Fishergate Centre, York, whose Yard Renovations offers landscaping in yards, no matter how small.

All will face the scrutiny of the three judges, Andy Milson, of York publishers Stone Soup, Peter Harrington, managing director of Questions Answered, and Julian Gladwyn, partner at Game Station, the 2002 Evening Press Business of the Year.

The winner will go through to the regional final at Elland Road football ground, Leeds, in April for a chance to have a crack at the national title, which carries with it a £10,000 prize.

Updated: 09:12 Tuesday, March 11, 2003