TWO young people have set up a jewellery repair business in Winsford after grants from the Prince's Trust and the Single Regeneration Budget.

Emma Berrisford, 20, from Matlock and Toby Bartlett, 23, from Sheffield opened Little Gems at the Verdin Exchange last Monday.

Emma said: "We were both unemployed and through the job centre we heard about the Prince's Trust, so with their help we put together a business plan.

"It is very hard to get jobs within the jewellery business because many stores are small and family-run, so we went to the Prince's Trust and secured a £5,000 start up loan."

The pair were given further financial backing from the Single Regeneration Budget which aims to encourage the development of businesses in the area.

Little Gems is based at a single unit in the Verdin Exchange, but they are eventually hoping to develop the business enough to get their own shop front.

Emma added: "We are starting at the bottom and hoping to build up.

"Because of the overheads connected with a shop front we plan to start out by doing repairs for the trade, but we are also open to the public."

Little Gems also offers an on-site pearl and bead re-threading service which is a dying art in England.

Ring Little Gems on 01606 590868.