A FLORIST and the man behind New Brighton’s new miniature golf course are the Wirral finalists in the Globe-backed Local Business Accelerator Awards.

Maria Cooper from Alright Petal in Wallasey and Nick Ashfield, from Championship Miniature Golf in Moreton were chosen from five shortlisted Wirral businesses to go through to the final.

The Globe will now be designing a free three-month advertising and promotions campaign for them in a bid to boost their businesses and hopefully help steer them to success.

The pair will also receive business mentoring and advice from Birkenhead Market manager Danny Doyle and WirralBiz director Mike Raworth.

The competition is backed by Deborah Meaden, of Dragon’s Den, Prime Minister David Cameron and the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King.

Alright Petal was founded by primary school teacher Maria Cooper, in 2010 and the shop is based in Wallasey village.

As well as selling a range of floral arrangements, the firm also teaches people the art of flower-making and has proven to be very popular with those taking part.

Maria decided to become a florist following the births of her two children and has never looked back.

On being selected as an Local Business Accelerator finalist, she told the Globe: "If I was to win, it would be phenomenal and an incredible boost for the business. The mentoring support would be brilliant.

"I only did six months of teaching support, had my two children and did a florestry course. I love the job and flowers are something I am really passionate about."

Nick Ashfield was an accounts manager in the pub industry before he had a 'lightbulb moment' in 2006, which led to the Championship Miniature Golf course that is currently being developed on King’s Parade in New Brighton.

It gives budding Tiger Woods a chance to the world's greatest golf holes with your friends and family in less than an hour.

It reinvents the proven and popular pastime of mini/crazy golf in order to appeal to the broadest cross section of people.

But Nick said the courses promise to be far from being 'crazy', they aim to be much more sophisticated.

Nick, originally from Wolverhampton, is a member of Wallasey Golf Club, he said: "I had worked in the pub industry for six years and it didn't really inspire me.

"So, one miserable Sunday I sat down and put pen to paper to find out what it was I actually wanted to do.

"I've been looking at this site since 2006, working with Wirral Council, and it’s location is ideal.

"I compliments the work carried out by Neptune Developments in New Brighton.

"As far as I was concerned, the area lacked a good, top-quality family location. The site adds to the renaissance of New Brighton.

"My dream would be to have an Open Golf champion who started out at the Wirral course."

Maria and Nick were chosen by a panel comprising business mentors Danny Doyle, Birkenhead Market manager, Mike Raworth, Wirralbiz director, plus Globe editor Leigh Marles and sales manager Diane Mayhew.

At the time of this year’s LBA launch, Deborah Meaden said: “With last year’s LBA having demonstrated the unique power of local and regional press to provide a meaningful boost to promising young businesses, I am delighted to be supporting the initiative once again."