SOME of the best young business brains in the county descended on the Eden shopping centre on Sunday for an entrepreneurial challenge.

A total of 24 teams from 16 schools took part in the biggest-ever Young Enterprise trade fair at the High Wycombe shopping centre as budding Richard Bransons showed off their moneymaking ideas.

The winning teams will now go on to countywide and regional finals and the possibility of being named among the best young businesspeople in the country.

Peter Newell, who sits on the area board for the Young Enterprise movement, said: "Last year we had 19 teams and the year before we had nine. We were panicking the Eden staff we didn't have enough room - we didn't want to limit the number of teams."

He added: "The pupils who do it really enjoy it. Some of the companies have done so well they have carried on with the company and made it a real business instead of going on to university or getting a job."

Team Infinity from Beaconsfield High School won the award for best stand with a series of handmade tie-dye products, with the similarly-named Team Affinity from the Dr Challoner's schools being runners-up for home produced hoodies.

Judges also put the young businesspeople through a series of interviews to prepare them for future finals and the business world.

The prize for best interview went to Team Sterling from the Beaconsfield School after judges were impressed with their waterproof cycle helmet covers, with the runner-up prize going to the Borlase Lions from Marlow's Sir William Borlase's Grammar School for clocks made from recycled bottles.

Joel Wood, 17, from the winning team said: "When we were cycling we found water would get in the holes and gaps and we'd get cold.

"People think it's a good idea and quite original. We've won some awards for it so we're really happy."

Team Nova, made up of pupils from both the Dr Challoner's schools in Amersham and Little Chalfont, also wowed the judging panel with a cookbook featuring the adventures of a kangaroo called Kenny.

Team member Zack Tosar said: "He travels around the world finding recipes from different countries. It's very educational.

"It took over a couple of months to get it all sorted. It's all hand drawn. We've had quite a lot of people interested."