BOLTON'S youngest business minds have landed a top award backed by Prince Charles.

Pupils at Smithills Secondary School are well placed to become Bolton’s entrepreneurs of the future, according to one of the country’s leading business figures.

The youngsters fought off competition from across the country to land a £2,000 runners up prize in a business challenge created by Prince Charles’ charity.

More than 80 teams battled it out in this year’s Mosaic Enterprise Challenge, held at the offices of international law firm Lovells in London. Star of BBC2’s Dragon Den and former Smithills pupil Imran Hakim visited the school to present the prize and congratulate youngsters on their success.

Mr Hakim, who created the successful i-teddy toy, said: “There is so much doom and gloom out there in the media, but having seen these young budding entrepreneurs in action I am extremely reassured that the future of this country is in good hands."

Mosaic is a national charity which was launched by Prince Charles and Business in the Community in 2007 to inspire and support talented individuals in the Muslim community.

Smithills School headteacher Chris Roberts said: “I am delighted for and immensely proud of our students' success. I look forward to each of the boys in the team becoming enterprise leaders, not only for the school but for Bolton.”