A TEA shop in Boroughbridge is hoping to fly the flag for Yorkshire in the 2006 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards - a search to find the most promising start-up businesses in Britain and the inspirational entrepreneurs behind them.

Tea For Two, started by accountant Terry Stockwell ten months ago, is one of several local companies hoping to scoop top honours in the Northern regional heat - one of five to be held across the UK.

Mr Stockwell, 62, said: "I travelled all over the country searching for the perfect tea shop to buy and nearly found it in Harrogate, but concluded the only way to end the quest was to open my own traditional tea rooms."

Now he is developing an adjoining shop to give Boroughbridge another luxury food store, along with a further tea room at Ravensworth Nursery, near Richmond, which is is reopening at Easter following a major refurbishment.

Mr Stockwell is also planning to launch an internet sales business to further diversify his interests.

Updated: 09:57 Friday, March 24, 2006