WOULD-BE entrepreneurs across York, North and East Yorkshire are being urged to tap into the current climate and turn their dreams into a business.

Alex McWhirter, head of enterprise at Yorkshire Forward, said the time was ripe for anyone with a vision to launch their own venture.

The messages comes after hundreds of hopefuls attended the Enterprise Show in York, staged by Yorkshire Forward and Business Link with the banner Don't Just Dream It. Do It.

Among those was 37-year-old Nicola Obrecht, from Tollerton, near Easingwold, who is setting up a business called Doodlebugz that produces illustrated posters for children to colour in.

She and her brother, Tim Butcher, were among the show's early arrivals looking for information and advice on starting out.

The Enterprise Show was open to anyone in North Yorkshire who is interested in running their own business, and provided advice, guidance and a chance to talk to people who have already made a success of their ideas.

Following the show, Mr McWhirter said: "My message to everyone is that there has never been a better time to start a new business.

"Entrepreneurs and enterprising people are vital to a thriving economy and Yorkshire Forward is determined to provide them with sound advice geared towards future business achievement. It was great to see such a good turnout in York again this year and shows that there is a high level of interest from people who want to turn their dreams of starting a business into reality."

Updated: 11:11 Friday, May 20, 2005