A firm that enables customers to design their own house sign has won a date with a Dragon.

Ebox Media, set up in Cranbrook by Dan Clay, a former bar and restaurant manager, has been chosen as the regional winner of the Local Business Accelerators competition.

The LBA scheme, backed by Prime Minister David Cameron, the Newspaper Society and the KM Group, looked for companies nationwide with the greatest potential to grow with the help of newspaper advertising. It attracted more than 3,000 entries.

Ebox and its website designahousesign.com saw off competition from more than 60 Kent entrants to win free advertising worth thousands of pounds. He also received advice from experts at Reeves, the accounting firm.

The Newspaper Society has today announced that Ebox is one of 12 regional winners that will be judged by Deborah Meaden, a Dragons' Den panellist on the BBC hit television series.

Delighed Dan said: "I only hope our progress in the competition can inspire other like-minded entrepreneurs to continue to believe in their business concept and keep moving forward no matter how hard the journey.

"I'm extremely grateful to the KM Group who launched our online advertising campaign, we saw our advert generate over 70,000 page views in a period of just four weeks.

"The support from our business mentor Jennifer Williamson at Reeves has also played a significant role by helping to identify additional market potential."

Ms Williamson, a partner designate at Reeves, said: "I'm delighted that the regional judges saw the same potential that we did locally. Having worked with Dan for the last few months, I'm confident that this is just the start of big things for Ebox Media."

The national winner will be announced on June 28.