A Bradford woman hopes to give people summer tans with a difference - thanks to the help of Business Link.

Business Link, part of Bradford's Chamber of Commerce, has offered to pay 50 per cent of the start-up costs of Tracey Butler's mobile Tropical Airbrush Tanning business.

Tracey, of Boynton Terrace, West Bowling, got the idea of setting up the business after reading about the tanning technique in magazines and seeing it used on television.

The former air hostess approached Business Link for advice about establishing the service and found she was eligible for financial help because she lives in the area covered by regeneration scheme Bradford Trident.

Now the 33-year-old is building up a client base in the district, using the tanning technique, which Tracey says is not well known in the North of England.

She said the tanning lotion contains Dihydroxy Acetone (DHA), a chemical which reacts with amino acids on the top layer of skin and causes it to turn brown.

A ten to 15-minute session, using an airbrush to spray the substance on the skin, causes the tan to develop over the next 24 hours and it lasts between five and ten days. Top-up sprays are given when needed.

"I want to go into people's homes to carry out the service," said Miss Butler. "Some people don't want to go into salons and use sun-beds."

Miss Butler has drawn up a business plan for the coming year and she is optimistic about her service being a success.

"I'd love to be able to take somebody else on to work alongside me," she said, "I'd also like to start my own salon if I can."

David Hodgkiss, regeneration programme manager for Business Link, said he was delighted to help start the business. "We can offer a 50 per cent grant up to the maximum of £5,000 but the client has to match the funding pound for pound."

Mr Hodgkiss said that in the last year, Business Link has helped establish 50 new businesses in the Trident area.

For Further information on Miss Butler's tanning business ring her on 07762 051343.