A MINEHEAD businessman who has seen his company grow from a small fancy dress outlet to a multi-million pound enterprise was among a delegation of entrepreneurs who met Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, last week.

Adrian Ryan of internationally successful face paint manufacturer Snazaroo met Mrs Spelman during her visit to Highbridge last week.

She was in the county to meet representatives from Somerset County Council and other key organisations as part of a Government scheme to pump £2.9 million into rural regeneration in Somerset and Devon.

Snazaroo started as a fancy dress business in Minehead's Butlins resort in 1989 and now has a global turnover of around £5 million a year under the ownership of international distributor ColArt.

The company is based on the town's Mart Road Industrial Estate and makes about 100 tonnes of face paint, as well as fancy dress accessories such as bloods, waxes, glitters and powders, every year.

It employs more than 70 people and managing director Mr Ryan said the Government funding boost, under the Rural Growth Network initiative, would make a huge difference, especially through investment in superfast broadband.

Mr Ryan said: "Without being able to expand into Minehead Enterprise Centre for our assembly and distribution lines three years ago and the council making modifications for us, we would have probably needed to leave the county as there was nowhere else suitable here – and might even have left the country.

"Having access to superfast broadband will give the website side of our business a bit of a boost and I'll be looking with interest at what is provided to see how it can help me and my staff.

"Running a business in rural areas is difficult and I'm pleased this pilot is going to help people like me who started up a company from scratch to grow into one that can compete at a national level."

Mrs Spelman said it was important businesses were not disadvantaged by their locations.

She said: "We are funding Devon and Somerset's Rural Growth Network to help ensure that no great business idea is held back by the challenges of a remote location.

"Local entrepreneurs will have new chances to achieve their business potential, boosting the rural economy and supporting a thriving local community."