CARRIER bags cutting into your hands are a thing of the past thanks to entrepreneurs from a Worcester school who won a prestigious business award - and are hoping for another.

Bag-It, run by 20 pupils from The King's School, was voted company of the year for its Gripper design at this year's South Worcestershire Young Enterprise final.

Five members of the team - Oliver Smith, Scott Rennie, Ben Pitts, Verity Moore and Alice Williams-Alden - were presented with the Roger Spilsbury Trophy at a ceremony last week.

Runners-up DiskOver from Worcester Sixth Form College, Educ8 from Prince Henry's High School, Evesham, and Elements from St James's School, Malvern, will now join Bag-it at the finals tonight.

With the highest accolade under its belt, Bag-It's board members then walked away with the DERA (Malvern) Innovation Award, with DiskOver and I Pinpoint, from the Royal Grammar School, following close behind.

The Rabjohn's shield for the best finance director was presented to Rachael Newton of Elements, with the Barclays Bank Customer Care title going to Educ8.

Peter and Margaret Bazley from Chinamatch presented three Individual Achiever awards to Ewan O'Farrell of I Pinpoint, and Laura Donovan and Amy Owens of Funky Fish from Hindlip College.

Ivor Ballard of the South Worcestershire Area Board said the pupils' success owed a great deal to the time and advice given so generously by local business people.

"All those connected with the Young Enterprise Scheme are extremely grateful," he said.

"The young people involved benefit hugely from this experience."

Bag-It and the three runners-up will be up against teams from Herefordshire and the Wyre Forest at tonight's heat at Worcester Rugby Club.

Firms reaching the West Midlands' final will be in the running for a place in July's London final.