A TEENAGER is to see her textile design brought to life by star fashion expert Patrick Grant.

Zaynab Assad, beat dozens of others in an interschool competition held by Mr Grant's Community Clothing company and the Lancashire Enterprise Advisor Network.

Eight schools took part in the 'junior sewing bee' competition which invited youngsters to design a one-off jacket which will be produced by Community Clothing.

The 14-year-old was encouraged to enter the competition by her teacher at Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley.

She said: "I feel really proud. It is amazing that the company are going to make a jacket with my design.

"I wanted it to be in a graffiti style and was working on a few ideas but decided to pick that one."

Headteacher David Burton said: "Zaynab has done so well to win this competition.

"We are very proud of her work and the whole class who were inspired to enter by their teacher.

"The judges said they were impressed by all of our students' designs and now Zaynab's design will be made by Patrick Grant's company in Blackburn."

Mr Grant, a judge on the BBC's Sewing Bee, set up his Community Clothing shop in Blackburn town centre last year.

The social enterprise partnership provides value-for-money clothes at cost during slack production.

Mr Grant, along with Community Clothing CEO Lucy Clayton, judged the competition.

He said: "It was really lovely to see the schools get involved.

"One of our Community Clothing designers will work with the student to refine the idea and it will be made as a present.

"It is a lovely collaborative thing and will give them work experience at the same time."

The competition was part of a scheme run by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Inspira who provide the Enterprise Advisor Network which aims to educate youngsters about careers in key sectors of Lancashire's economy.

Youngsters from Shuttleworth College in Padiham, Unity College and Coal Clough Academy in Burnley, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy and both St Thomas Centre in Darwen and Blackburn took part in the competition.

Dr Michele Lawty-Jones, director of Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, said the enterprise network wants to encourage talented young people to choose careers in priority sectors including the textiles industry in order to address skills shortages holding back business growth.

She said: "Through the Clothing Company Competition, pupils at local schools have had their eyes opened to career opportunities in the textiles industry, which will improve their employability and life chances in the future and help drive economic growth in this key sector of Lancashire's economy in coming years."