A young entrepreneur is set to develop a truly "hands on" control of her own business after qualifying for a Lochaber Business Start-Up award this week.

Shona Ritchie (aged 24) is to begin practising as a remedial and sports massage therapist after graduating in anatomy from Glasgow University this summer.

Shona said: "After my degree I trained in Swedish and sports and remedial massage at the Western School and Clinic of Massage in Ayrshire. Remedial massage is a way of detecting the source of muscle problems and treating conditions such as repetitive strain injury and clinical problems like ME and stroke injury.

"I knew that there would be a market for this kind of service in Lochaber as many people do very physical jobs where muscle strain is commonplace.

"Local fishermen for example are potential clients as they regularly suffer from strain injuries and if they cannot work they do not get paid."

Nevis Range ski school and local GP practices have already agreed to publicise Shona's work. Although she will be based at a clinic in Acharacle, 45 miles from Fort William she will also provide a mobile service.

Shona said: " The therapy itself only requires a base oil and a portable massage table, which when folded looks very like a glorified wallpapering table.

Provided people have enough room, the massage can be done anywhere so I hope to be able to reach people across the region."

Shona has attended a business start up course run by the local enterprise company, Lochaber Limited and will receive financial assistance for her first 26 weeks in business.