A Brislington businesswoman is calling for entrepreneurs helped by the Prince's Trust to support each other in the economic crisis.

Lorna Knapman, 32, is one of the 200 young people from Bristol helped by the charity in the past five years after going to the trust in 2007 to set up her business Bitesize Food. The company, which provides healthy food for children at events, has since developed into a monthly food festival called LoveFood.

She is now using her success to set up a new free initiative in the Bristol area and is looking for other local business who were supported or are currently being supported to get involved.

The Prince's Trust Bristol Young Entrepreneurs Network will bring together trust-supported businesses from the city to act as a support network and share best practice.

The group, whose first meeting is on Thursday, at 12.30pm at the Prince's Trust offices, in Marsh Street, will promote and support members' businesses and will look at ways to work together.

Ms Knapman said: "Working on your own can be quite isolating and you come across challenges and obstacles.

" I think this will be a great way for people in the same boat to learn from each other. It will not only be a great networking and business development opportunity but a chance to meet new people and socialise," she said.

If you are interested in taking part in the group or would like to find out more, contact Lorna on lorna@lovefoodfestival.com or Michelle Moran on 0117 943 2300.

The Prince's Trust helps young people set up in business with low-interest loans and mentoring support for the first three years, over 50 per cent of their businesses are still trading into their third year.