Henry Patterson, 9, youngest member at business chamber

Henry Patterson is on his third business venture in two years

A nine-year-old has become the youngest ever member of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce.

Henry Patterson, from Bedford, now on his third business venture in two years, sells a children's sweet collection from an online shop.

He called his honorary membership "one of the most exciting things that has ever happened in my life".

A spokeswoman from the chamber said: "It's great to see young people with entrepreneurial flair."

Starting his first enterprise at seven, trading bags of manure, Henry set up a store on an online auction site, selling items from charity shops a year later.

Future businessman

He decided to sell his specially-designed jars of sweets, branded Not Before Tea, from his mother's online retro sweet shop because she did not offer anything specifically for children.

More than 100 orders were received in the first month and he hit his £10 profit target in the first week.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Cheryl Smart said: "Young people like Henry are the business people of the future who will help build our economy and provide employment."

She said the organisation, formed in 1877, was "really looking forward to keeping up to date with his progress".

Henry, who will be able to attend Chamber meetings, said business is "kind of fun".