A young entrepreneur is in the running for a national award after doubling turnover at the aquatics shop she took on in 2008 – when she was just 22 years old.

Twenty-six-year-old Laura Fowler has already won the £500 East Midlands Young Entrepreneur Award for Victor Aquatics.

It means she is now up for the National Category Winners' Awards, which could give her the opportunity to win two more awards, worth nearly £10,000 in total.

The dedicated young businesswoman is investing her winnings so far in double-glazing for the shop and if she wins either of the other two awards, she plans to spend the money on expanding the premises in the future.

Laura said: "Since I took over, I have reinvested almost everything back into the business and have already extended the shop and added an outside area.

"The other businesses that have been nominated are amazing and I can't believe I've even got this far – I'm really proud."

Organisers Streamline and the Federation Of Small Business have invited Laura to the gala event at Glaziers Hall, in London, on Thursday, April 18, where the winners will be announced.

Down-to-earth Laura has not let dyslexia hold her back, studying for a business qualification with the Open University while working as a PA for the director of a mobile home company.

In 2008, she took on the store, which had a turnover of £114,000. By 2012, that had increased to £246,000 – and she now employs her two brothers and sister, who is currently taking a career break to have a baby.