A ENTREPRENEUR received £100,000 for her business after a successful appearance in the Dragons' Den.

Retail guru Theo Paphitis pledged his support for Karen O’Neill’s company KCO Inline Skating, which makes skates that create an ice skating experience on a number of surfaces.

But Ms O’Neill’s appearance on the popular BBC show, which gives the public the opportunity to pitch a business idea to a panel of millionaire entrepreneurs, was not all plain sailing.

She said: “Peter Jones was really rude. He made me feel like I was the most useless person in the world. He said my product was more for people wanting to take up a hobby than a business and that I had no business sense.

“The Dragons' Den experience was the most nerve wracking thing I've ever done. Presenting to some of Britain's best entrepreneurs sends your legs to jelly and you forget things you've rehearsed a thousand times.

“When Theo said he'd invest the money we didn't believe him. This is a dream come true. Karen and I have invested all our spare cash and time into developing this idea. Getting Theo Paphitis on board is amazing.”

Ms O’Neill, of Queens Grove Road, Chingford, appeared alongside her business partner Karen Coombes.

She came up with the idea for the skates in response to a national shortage of ice rinks.