A SCIENCE champion and a legendary inventor will both crown Yorkshire's most innovative young entrepreneurs in York.

Johnny Ball, the TV science and mathematics personality, will join Trevor Baylis, celebrated inventor of the wind-up radio, to make their judgement at Venturefest Yorkshire at York Racecourse on Wednesday.

Both will sit on the judging panel for the Skillsfest Industry Challenges finals at the event, organised by Young Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber and North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP). They will decide which of the 18 competing schools teams has the Most Innovative Product.

It is Mr Baylis' second visit to Venturefest in Yorkshire, which brings together innovators and investors from across the county. Last year he won over audiences at a presentation about making a living from being an inventor, but was fascinated by the entrepreneurial input of schoolchildren. Now he is following through.

Johnny Ball, who hosted the popular children's TV programmes, Think Of A Number, Think Again, and Johnny Ball Reveals All will also address Venturefest delegates attending the Attracting Funding seminar, as well as helping to launch a new science careers initiative from event sponsor Science City York.

The initiative will promote careers in science and technology to young people through a specialist resource pack and taster sessions, that will be taking place as part of the York Festival of Science And Technology, between March 11 and March 20.

The Skillsfest Industry Challenges form part of Enterprise Inspirations, a celebration of the region's young entrepreneurial talent through organisations including NYBEP, Young Enterprise, Learning & Skills Council (LSC), York College and the University of York.

Alongside it will be a wide range of displays, activities and presentations at the one day event - from badge making by the youngest entrepreneurs raising funds for the tsunami appeal, to demonstrations of creative applications for interactive sensory technology by students on creative industries courses at York College.

Paul Murphy, NYBEP's executive director, said: "Having the support of people like Trevor Baylis and Johnny Ball is a huge help in keeping science, technology and enterprise in its rightful place; high on the public agenda and prominent in the lives of young people."

Venturefest Yorkshire is organised by the York Professional Initiative, with the support of regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Updated: 11:59 Friday, January 28, 2005