Mildenhall designer scoops the Young Trader of the Year regional competition in Bury St Edmunds

A young designer has won the regional round of a young trader competition.

Sophie Clarke, 25, from Mildenhall, runs Sophie Clarke Designs and has been crowned winner at the regional heat at the Young Trader of the Year competition.

Sophie’s textile designs got her to the national final last year and has once again wowed the judges with her bespoke, woven home decor.

Following the previous heats, the Young Trader of the Year competition continued in Bury St Edmunds market place yesterday.

Organised by the National Market Traders Federation, the regional heat saw 13 young traders, aged between 16 and 30, show off their trading skills to the judges.

Winning traders will be moving on into the national final that takes place in Stratford upon Avon at the end of August.

Regional category winners also included: Georgia Crouchman, 27, from Bury St Edmunds of Gee Gee Bakes, Gemma Oakes, 29, from Woodbridge of Doodle Doughnuts and Sophie Mann, 25, from Alpheton, of Sophie April Mann Textile Designs.

Highly commended awards were also distributed to: Bethany Estelle, 27, from Ely, of Bumble The Wellness Wax Company, Rebekka Johnson, from Northampton, of The Little Print Box, Jessica Rix, 25, from Bury St Edmunds, of Little Jessie's, Holly Carr-Maskell, 27, from Newmarket, of Dear Love Ltd and Olivia Washington, 29, from Braintree, of Olivia’s Curiosities.

West Suffolk Council supports the local and regional heats by supplying tables, gazebos and covering insurance costs.