PASTA is thought of by most students as a cheap way of eating at university, but for one Fenland entrepreneur it could be the key ingredient in his business empire.

Adam Thompson, 23, from Benwick, and his business partner Jeff Postlethwaite are celebrating after they secured an investment of �50,000 for their growing company Fasta Pasta.

The pair starred on BBC Three show Be Your Own Boss on Wednesday, in which co-founder of Innocent Smoothies Richard Reed gave them the cash to kickstart their first Twists Pasta Bar.

Adam and Jeff, who go to university in Huddersfield, started the company last year after winning a three-month “test the market” store in the town.

Adam said: “We saw the gap in the market for healthy food and as students we ate a lot of pasta! We thought that it was the best option.

“As we started this process we heard about Be Your Own Boss and we had to apply. We saw it as a great opportunity to spread the word about our business idea.”

There were more than 1,000 applicants for the BBC show and 500 of these were given �100 with instructions to “go away and make a profit”.

The applicants then returned, with their profits, to an exhibition in London where they pitched their ideas to multi-millionaire Mr Reed.

The Fasta Pasta duo impressed enough to be handed �3,500 of “seed capital”, which they used to improve the business - accompanied by a film crew - over the next six weeks.

They were then summoned back to Mr Reed’s head office in London, known as ‘Fruit Towers’, to be told they had won the �50,000 investment.

Adam, whose parents still live in Benwick, said: “After we had sat down and taken in what had happened, we got back to work on our first shop in Huddersfield, ensuring it goes as smoothly as possible.

“We are on target for opening the store at the end of the month and we have continued working with many of the companies and experts featured in the show to create the perfect customer experience.

“Later on this month we will also be commencing our third and final year of our degrees and we will look to take what we learn in the lecture theatre to real life business situations.

“There are busy and exciting times ahead!”