NAPPY entrepreneur Sarah Jayne Edwards has cleaned up a top royal award -- but had to miss the big presentation.

Sarah Jayne, from Rochester, could not enjoy one of the biggest business nights of her life because she was thousands of miles away in Thailand caring for her sick husband and their eight-month old daughter Summer.

The doughty opponent of disposable nappies had been hoping to attend a prestigious VIP presentation ceremony hosted by The Prince's Trust in a privately-owned vintage car museum in Uckfield, Sussex.

But husband Alan was taken ill during a visit to Thailand where he was staying with their daughter. Sarah Jayne, founder of Baby Nappies, a cotton nappy laundering service, had no option but to rush to his side to care for him and Summer.

She had seen off hundreds of rival businesses to win The Prince's Trust and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Business Award for the South East. Hugh Stirk, her business mentor, accepted the £500 cheque and certificate on her behalf.

He said she was very disappointed to miss the occasion. He told guests how Sarah Jayne had overcome obstacles in her teens to set up the business in 2000 with a £4,200 loan from The Prince's Trust, the organisation founded by Prince Charles.

"She will be absolutely thrilled to receive this award," he said. Explaining the secrets of her success, he added: "She is a tremendous extrovert and very good at promoting the business.

"If you had any connection with anybody who had a baby, you would be persuaded to do business with her."

Sarah Jayne has more than 300 customers in Medway and elsewhere. She used hospital and prison laundries in Medway Hospital and Rochester Prison before buying her own machines.

Kent County Council is backing her as part of its War on Waste campaign. A disposable nappy can take 500 years to decompose in a landfill site.

The presentation, held among some of the world's rarest cars in a collection built up by multi-millionaire Mike Timms, founder of the Trifast nuts and bolts company, were sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland which is pumping £3.7 million into The Prince's Trust over three years.

Jim Edgar, regional business manager for NatWest, now part of RBS, and a judge, said: Sarah Jayne has put a great deal of energy, enterprise and innovation into her business and is a deserving winner."

Sarah Jayne goes on to the national final which is likely to be attended by Prince Charles himself.

There was another success for the county when Wayne Cooper, founder of Cooper's Digger and Tipper Hire in Ramsgate, took third place.

Mr Edgar added: "These awards reflect the determination and drive of these Trust-supported entrepreneurs despite some of them trading against the odds.

"They have shown what can be achieved in the face of difficulties. They deserve our admiration, appreciation and support."

He urged local business people to give up three or four hours a month to become mentors of these young people.