TWO successful Bolton companies have been named in a list of the fastest growth businesses in inner city Britain.

Walsh Sports Ltd in Daubhill and the MMM Group Ltd in Lower Bridgeman Street are both in the second annual Inner City 100 -- the prestigious small business awards which Chancellor Gordon Brown has dubbed "the Enterprise Oscars."

Brothers Jonathan and Dennis Crompton were placed at number 26 in the list after Walsh -- a successful exporter of high-quality leisure trainers -- recorded 543 per cent growth over five years.

MMM, the multimedia entertainment specialist run by John Blackburn and his family, was placed at number 42 with 367 per cent growth over the same period.

The competition, which attracts thousands of entries, is a project by the government-backed New Economics Foundation, a leading think-tank on neighbourhood renewal.

Eligible companies needed to have been based within the the poorest fifth inner city areas in the country. The Cromptons have been making a name for themselves since 1996 when they bought the remarkable business established by Norman Walsh in 1961.

Over the years his quality hand-made shoes were worn by a wide range of sportsmen, including the wrestler Giant Haystacks and cricketers Joel Garner and Allan Border. Dennis and Jonathan re-invented Mr Walsh's shoes in different colours and subsequently hit the jackpot in the style stakes throughout the world -- they are particularly popular in Italy, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany and Belgium.

Trainers which carry the words Walsh Bolton England compete for attention with other top quality brands such as Prada and Gucci.

"We sell Bolton as well as the shoe," Jonathan said. Walsh Sports was entered in the Inner City 100 contest by Malcolm Howarth, one of the advisers with Bolton Council's Business Support Unit.

He said today: "I am delighted that they did so well. This firm is a great ambassador for Bolton."

The winning 100 companies were invited down to London for two days of meetings with ministers, economists and business leaders such as Sir Alan Sugar.

A highlight for the Cromptons and Mr Howarth was a reception at No 11 Downing Street where they met Gordon Brown. and heard him thank inner cities companies -- on behalf of the government -- for the contribution they make to the UK economy. "We were the only shoe manufacturer in the list," Jonathan, aged 36, said. "The market is going crazy for us." "Customers and distributors want us to supply more and more for next year." Mr John Blackburn Snr, Managing Director of the MMM Group, was unable to go to London for the prestigious Awards events, but he was delighted with the accolade.

MMM, which was established in 1992, supplies multimedia entertainment technology to the leisure sector.