OH baby! Bromsgrove entrepreneur Elizabeth Clifford is causing big business to throw their dummies out of the corporate pram after an amazing first year's trading.

This time last year, ambitious Elizabeth, whose maiden name is Walker, was sketching out her fledgling ideas on a "scrappy piece of paper".

Today, the former South Bromsgrove High School pupil's Swamp Kids firm is exporting handcrafted baby goods all over the world, with a huge market in New York.

"It's been absolutely crazy since I started," said the 27-year-old, who launched her business with a £3,000 Princes' Trust grant.

"It has been really hard work but that's something I really don't mind. I am so pleased with just how well it's gone."

Elizabeth, from the Harvington Road area of Bromsgrove, got the idea to make personalised baby items, including blankets, wall mobiles and pictures, after working for big high street chains in Paris and New York.

"I suppose it was a case of seeing parents buying the same old stuff, from the same, old stores," she explained.

"Everyone had the same thing, so I wanted to do something a little different and my customers seem to appreciate the personal touch. I suppose the sign that any business is doing well is repeat orders, and that's certainly what's happening with Swamp Kids."

Such is the impact of her new venture, trust president HRH The Prince of Wales has sent a personal letter congratulating the former textiles student on her growing baby empire and the quality of her products.

After exhibiting her wares at Birmingham's NEC and Olympia in London, she is now encouraging other would-be Richard Bransons to follow their business dreams.

She is also urging potential entrepreneurs to go on a Chambers of Commerce-backed Business Link course at NEW College, where she was given help with all aspects of retailing.

Elizabeth will be sharing her experiences with pupils as part of Enterprise Week, which starts next Monday. She also plans to move from her Redditch studio to bigger premises and take on staff to help with her increasing workload.

And, as for the name Swamp Kids?

"I used to have dreadlocks when I was younger, so my brother Dave teased me by calling me Swampy...the rest is history!" she joked.