A LOCKSMITH, a handyman and a wedding chair cover hire company have been chosen as the winners of a Grimsby Telegraph-backed scheme to help boost the local economy.

The three fledgling Grimsby area businesses have been selected by a panel of judges as the winners of the Local Business Accelerators Competition.

They are Richard Ellis Ltd, The-Handyman.co.uk, both based on The Enterprise Village at Prince Albert Gardens and Crystal Chair Covers, of Station Approach, Grimsby.

As part of their prize, the three companies will receive free advertising in the Grimsby Telegraph and mentoring from a local business expert.

One of the trio will then be chosen to enter the national heat, with the chance to secure the support of Dragon's Den panel member Deborah Meaden – without the need to part with any equity.

As reported the competition has been organised by the Newspaper Society to support local businesses between one and three years old.

Richard Ellis, owner of Richard Ellis Ltd, said: "To get through to the final three is really pleasing. We are always looking at ways that we can improve and grow our business and to that end getting some advice from another business person with a fresh set of eyes will be very helpful.

"Being so close to the business you sometimes get stuck in your ways and you don't necessarily see the bigger picture or other business opportunities."

Scott Watts, owner of the Handyman.co.uk, said: "I can't put it into words. To be chosen as one of the final three shows that as a new business we must doing something right. From the start my aim was to build up the business to a level in Grimsby and then franchise the concept to other areas.

"The free advertising will be a great help, and the mentoring should help with ideas for the business that I hadn't thought of."

Donna Keanan, from Crystal Chair Covers, said: "We are honoured. This should really help us grow our business.

"We entered the competition because as a small business we are not able to do the large advertising campaigns that some other businesses can.

"This is a brilliant opportunity for us to grow the business and get into a position where we will able to afford more advertising."

Prime Minister David Cameron, who is backing the campaign, congratulated the winning businesses.

He said: "It's brilliant that so many promising young companies, from such a wide range of sectors, are benefiting from this excellent initiative.

"Entrepreneurship, creativity and ambition are essential for our economic recovery and through Local Business Accelerators, newspapers such as the Grimsby Telegraph are supporting some great new British businesses to grow, and helping to boost their local economy.

"I wish the newspapers, businesses and their mentors every success over the coming months."