An inkling of an idea has grown in to a huge success story for one entrepreneurial Walton mother.

Cara Sayer, of Really Simple Ideas, has been selected as England’s best entreprenueur in small business competition the Pitch 2011 and shortlisted as one of three European finalists in Cartier Women’s Initiative awards.

Her success comes through SnoozeShade, a blackout blind for prams, pushchairs and infant car seats, which attracted attention from a manufacturing supplier after she attended the Nursery Trade Show in 2009 with a crude prototype.

Two years later it is stocked in retailers across the UK, including Boots, Mothercare and John Lewis, and is available in 13 different countries.

She said: “It really has been a whirlwind. I knew it was a good idea, but I had no idea it would take off in such a big way and in such a short space of time.

“It’s certainly been a challenging few years, but having decided to take the plunge and start my own enterprise, I’ve never looked back.”

Business Link South East helped her in the early days. Call 0845 6009006 or visit businesslink.gov.uk/southeast to see what it can do for you.