BUDDING teenage tycoon Richard Boon has the world at his feet after scooping £85,000 in a Dragon's Den-style contest.

Mr Boon, 18, impressed investors so much at The Pitch event styled on the popular TV show that all three decided to pour cash into his idea.

Now the former pupil of Marlborough School in Woodstock is deciding exactly what to do with the money, although he is keen to see his concept, an adjustable footstool for pensioners with walking difficulties, go into production.

He said: "I pitched for £85,000 and that is what I received, so I am delighted. Now I want to develop the product ready for the market."

Even before he started his pitch, Mr Boon sold 50 of the products, known as the Multi-Prop, to the deputy chairman of Business Link, Alex Pratt, who pledged to market them on a website.

The investors in the business are Simon Biltcliffe, managing director of Bicester-based print management firm Webmart, hotel entrepreneur Nazim Manji and Christopher Johnston, chairman of Personal Group Holdings.

And Peter Jones, one of the panel on Dragon's Den, also offered to help advise Mr Boon as he set up the business.

Mr Boon added: "They were not just investing in the product but me as a person as I have lots of ideas."

Since The Pitch, Mr Boon has been offered several jobs which he is considering as well as a postgraduate place at Cranfield University, one of the competition sponsors.

The event was also a success for Kulveer Taggar, right, his cousin Harjeet Taggar, centre, and Daliso Zuze, all graduates from Oxford University, who set up student trading website, Boso.com They were voted as having the best pitch on the night and have attracted pledges of support from Peter Jones and Nazin Manji.

Kulveer, 23, said: "It was a fantastic opportunity and a great experience. Someone in the audience also offered us £5,000, which has really helped."

Catherine Crowfoot, business development manager for Business Link, said: "By gaining support for both their ventures under tough questioning in front of 300 people, they have become perfect examples of the rich talent pool and spirit of enterprise that is apparent in the region."