A fashion graduate from Stratford has received a £1,500 cash injection to help her business dreams become a reality.

Naomi Mengha, 27, makes evening gowns and was one of five local entrepreneurs benefitting from a small grant from East Thames housing association.

The scheme, called East Entrepreneurs, offers a grant to East Thames residents wanting to start a small business, or boost an existing small company.

Each entrepreneur competes for an investment in their business at the end of the scheme with a Dragon’s Den style pitch.

Naomi will use the cash to buy a sewing machine.

“I’m going to buy all the equipment that I need and officially register as a business,” she said.

“I’ve been using my friend’s sewing machine but she lives in Seven Sisters so I had to go and borrow it for a couple of hours at a time. Having my own equipment is beneficial because I’ll be able to finish people’s orders much quicker in my own home.”