WHEN it comes to keeping up appearances, 21-year-old Rachael Flanagan is a sweeping success.

The owner of Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services in Pontarddulais scooped £1,000 and the title of young entrepreneur of the year at the British Small Business Champions (BSBC) 2008.

Rachael started the business when she was just 18.

She decided on the name Mrs Bucket, pronounced "Bouquet" after the house-proud character Hyacinth in the hit TV sitcom Keeping up Appearances.

Three years on, she has 22 people working for her, more than 120 clients and has extended her services to include maintenance such as decorating and gardening.

"My mother had a cleaner who kept letting her down," she said.

"I was 17 at the time, and thought it would be good to have a company and be in control of staff to monitor the standards.

"I was waiting for the results of my business A-Level, but failed. I was too wrapped up in waiting to set this up.

"I started with £20, which I spent on flyers. I had 1,000 made, and I never looked back.

"At first I was sitting around waiting for phone calls, but it soon picked up."

Rachael picked up her prize at a ceremony at Claridges Hotel in Mayfair, London.

"I was gobsmacked, to be honest," she said.

"It was a great weekend.

"It's all down to the staff."

One of the BSBC judges, Henry Ejdelbaum, said: "We were seeking a winner with the right personal qualities.

"These included a high degree of entrepreneurship, vision for the future and leadership, and the ability to develop an owner-led business.Rachael is very ably demonstrating, by the success of her business, that she fulfills all of these criteria."