ENTREPRENEUR Deborah Meaden, one of the stars of TV’s Dragons’ Den, is firing up firms in Suffolk and urging them to seize the chance to win three months’ free advertising in the Evening Star before next week’s deadline.

Ms Meaden is spearheading a national campaign to support start-up businesses by offering free advertising to help raise their profile and get their ideas off to a flying start.

The Star – along with its sister paper, the East Anglian Daily Times – are among 500 regional newspapers around the country to sign up to the “Local Business Accelerators” advertising competition.

“Local Business Accelerators is the perfect opportunity to drive your business to success,” she said.

Firms can apply for a chance to win the free advertising by visiting the www.accelerateme.co.uk website until the 14 November deadline