Students from Appleby Grammar School failed by the narrowest of margins to win the county final of the Young Enterprise competition.

Judges initially found it almost impossible to separate Appleby's Revolution business from Eek, representing William Howard School, Brampton.

All five area finalists were marked on their company report, as well as their trade stand and company presentation performances at the county final, held at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, on Friday night.

Chairman of the judges Jack Stopforth said the two schools were tied after the initial round of judging and they only came up with a clear winner after disregarding the marks given for each company's written reports.

The chief executive of Cumbria Inward Investment Agency said: "It's been an extraordinarily difficult time for the judges.

You have to be incredibly proud of the achievements of all the participants tonight."

William Howard School, which also scooped five prizes, including the Westmorland Gazette-sponsored award for best company promotion, now go forward to represent Cumbria at the North West final, to be held in Manchester on June 9.

Zenith, run by students from Windermere St Anne's School, failed to finish in the top three overall, but still claimed two of the top prizes.

Results

Cumbria Champion Company: William Howard School.

Achiever of the Year: Mark Wrathal, BAE Systems.

Grafter of the Year: Amanda Butler, William Howard School.

ICSA administration award: Whitehaven School.

CQA quality award: William Howard School.

BAE Systems Award for best business development: 1 Appleby Grammar; 2 Windermere St Anne's; 3 William Howard.

BAE Systems award for most innovative business practice: 1 William Howard; 2 Walney School; 3 Whitehaven.

Nat West award for best corporate image: 1 William Howard; 2 Whitehaven; 3 Walney.

Made in Cumbria award for most marketable product: Walney; 2 Appleby Grammar; 3 Whitehaven.

Westmorland Gazette award for best company promotion: 1 William Howard; 2 Appleby Grammar; 3 Walney.

Connexions Cumbria award for personal development of company directors: 1 William Howard; 2 Windermere St Anne's; 3 Whitehaven.

HSBC award for best financial management: 1 Windermere St Anne's; 2 Appleby Grammar; 3 Whitehaven.

Cumbria Inward Investment Agency award for marketing: 1 W

indermere St Anne's; 2 William Howard; 3 Appleby Grammar.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Industry award for most imaginative stall: 1 Whitehaven; 2 Windermere St Anne's; 3 Appleby Grammar.