Budding entrepreneur Sam Boatwright slew “the dragons” with his business idea.

He beat six other finalists to win Keighley’s own version of Dragons’ Den.

The Biz Factor competitors had to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.

And the prize included £1,500 of business support and expert advice courtesy of the Bradford Kickstart programme.

Sam — who plans to start Viper Vending, a vending machine company — said: “I’m gobsmacked but delighted. Pitching my idea to the judges was a bit nerve-wracking but it was well worth it.

The business support package and expertise will make a huge difference to getting Viper Vending off the ground.”

The challenge was staged by Keighley-based Kick-start partner Airedale Enterprise Services (AES) and the local campus of Leeds City College, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The judging panel included Cllr John Pennington, Dickinson’s Real Deal antiques expert and Keighley businessman Tim Hogarth and Jane Vincent, founder of recruitment agency Candelisa People.

Wendy Ellis, business services manager with AES, said: “Sam gave an impressive pitch. All the dragons were impressed with the potential of his idea.

“The overall presentations from all finalists were to a very high standard but Sam’s had the edge.”