A BOLTON businesswoman is celebrating after successfully pitching her llama trekking outings to a well-known experience days website — with help from a former Dragons Den star.

Celia Gaze, managing director of the Wellbeing Farm in Edgworth, impressed bosses at Red Letter Days to win the successful bid.

She was invited to pitch to the national experience company in Birmingham after receiving a business boost from retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.

The farm was picked by the former Dragons’ Den star as one of his Small Business Sunday winners last year.

The three-hour llama trek, for one or two people, takes place from the farm in Plantation Road and explores the surrounding idyllic countryside, followed by afternoon tea.

Mother-of-one Ms Gaze said: "I had to deliver a three-minute pitch to the Red Letter Days team.

"It was the first time I’d ever pitched to a major company before so I am delighted that not only was the pitch successful, but in under two years of trading, we have been recognised by such a prestigious company.

"It’s hard setting up a business anyway but setting up a business in a rural area is really tough and it’s taken a lot of hard work to raise our profile.

"We are very pleased that Theo and Red Letter Days have recognised our hard work and will now help spread the word about what we do."

Set up in 1989, Red Letter Days gives people the chance to buy experiences — from a Ferrari driving challenge to spa day pampering — as gifts.

Ms Gaze came up with the idea for the Wellbeing Farm after her doctor signed her off with stress, caused by working long days and weekends as a director with the NHS while trying to juggle family life and her son, then aged one.

With the help of her partner Stephen Whitehead, she transformed the 18th-century building from a rundown farm into an events and courses venue, with its own cookery school where people can sample farm life and go walking with llamas.

It opened in April 2013 and is also available for hire as a venue for functions including weddings.

It has since won a number of awards including a gold Green Tourism gong and the accolade for best use of local produce at the 2013 British Cookery School awards.