BUSINESSWOMAN Heidi Bell has won a top national award, less than a year after becoming her own boss.

Her business, WISH...creations, scooped the prestigious Focal Point Award from the Prince's Trust, in recognition of her flair for innovation, professional design and marketing excellence.

Heidi only formed her Ulverston business - making soft furnishings, furniture, tableware and accessories for the home - last November with the help of a £1,500 start-up grant and a similar loan from the Prince's Trust.

She beat 40 other Prince's Trust-supported businesses to win the award at the Top Drawer trade show for retailers and interior designers, held at London's Earls Court.

She was presented with her prize at an awards ceremony by actress Samantha Bond, who plays Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films.

Entrants filled in an application form and judges assessed the quality of the finalists' stands at the trade show earlier this month.

A delighted Heidi said she had fancied her chances of winning the award, given her previous experience of promoting pop concerts for bands like the Eurythmics and Marc Almond in the UK and Australia.

"I promoted them and did behind the scenes work, so I thought I was in with a good chance," she said.

Her prize also includes a free stand, worth £2,000, at the autumn giftware trade fair held at the NEC.

She said it was great to have an opportunity to attend the event, adding: "It's very expensive to go to a show - several thousands of pounds which is a big outlay."

Heidi launched her second collection of soft furnishings and accessories at the Top Drawer show, ranging from mirror cube tables and suede block cushions, to giant glitter room dividers and funky silver glazed noodle bowls.

Her work has earned rave reviews from the Trade Press - Home Flair hailed her as designer of the month, while her collection was described as "full of texture, slightly eccentric, but still practical" by The Journal.

Heidi, who sells direct to the public through mail order and the Internet, does her own design work and shares production duties with her mother, Janet.