AN Okehampton business woman was on the rostrum when she scooped two awards at a major ceremony in Dartington.

Owner of O'Conners Campers, Sam Money, won the award for most developed business and most dynamic use of IT, at the 2010 Women Do Business Awards at Dartington Great Hall.

O'Connors Campers, based at Old Road, Okehampton, have more than 30 years' experience caring for VW campers and now have a fleet of 15 VW campervans to hire, ranging from the iconic 1960s splitscreen, to the classic 1970s baywindow.

Sam is part of the new Okehampton Women's Business Network, which was launched recently through the Women Do Business programme.

The network is dedicated to providing support, training and inspiration to women who own, or are interested in starting their own business in the Okehampton area.

More than 80 business women from all over Devon came together to celebrate their achievements at the awards ceremony.

Awards were presented by a range of special guests who all provided top tips for business success.

The Women Do Business Service is run by the Community Council of Devon (CCD) which launched the first rural Women's Business Centre in the country at the Watermark Centre in Ivybridge last September. It is planning to open more women business centres in Tiverton and South Molton soon.

There are currently eight local business networks operating across Devon.

The Women Do Business service is funded by the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group and Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund (LEAF), incorporating funding from the EU, DEFRA, SWRDA and LEADER, as well as Productive Skills for Devon and the Skills Funding Agency.

Project manager of Women Do Business and assistant chief executive at CCD, Charlotte Hanson, said: 'It has been a real privilege working with our business women this year.

'We have been so impressed with the dedication, determination and innovation of the women who have worked so hard to launch and build their businesses in such challenging times.'