WHEN she was still a teenager, frustrated Erika Maude found there was nowhere in the UK to provide specialist physiotherapy for sufferers of her spinal condition.

WHEN she was still a teenager, frustrated Erika Maude found there was nowhere in the UK to provide specialist physiotherapy for sufferers of her spinal condition.

She decided to set up her own clinic - and now less than two years later she employs 11 specialists at her Martlesham clinic and has just been named East Anglian young businesswoman of the year.

Erika was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 11 years old. She was given the option of wearing a spinal brace or undergoing surgery.

She didn't want surgery, and the brace was not effective but she found out about the Rigo-Schroth physiotherapy method which was widely used in Europe, but for which there were no clinics in the UK.

At the age of 19 she gave up her university scholarship to set up the Scoliosis SOS Clinic which has now helped hundreds of people suffering from the condition.

The East Anglian businesswoman of the year was Karen Hester, operations director of Southwold brewers Adnams, who masterminded the company's move to new premises at Reydon just outside the town last year.

She started work for the company 20 years ago as an office cleaner and is now responsible for 100 employees.

Ms Hester's role with the company includes overseeing the maintenance of beer quality and ensuring it is distributed throughout southern England.

The awards are organised by the Suffolk branch of the Institute of Directors and the winners go through to the National Veuve Ciquot Awards later this year.