A grandmother from Pratts Bottom has entered the Pitch to Rich race with an unusual way to beat chocolate cravings.

Pam Harris, 59, has thrown her hat into the ring to win a share of £1,000,000 in prize money as part of Richard Branson’s business campaign.

Mrs Harris has been a neuro linguistic programmer (NLP) for 10 years, and says two years ago she had an idea of how to revolutionise the fight against food cravings.

The mother of two and grandmother of four has spent the last two years developing a DVD which came out earlier this year entitled ‘In Your Hands’, which uses NLP to fight food cravings.

She said: "NLP changes our association with particular food. I’m sure we’ve all had an experience where we maybe got sick from a certain food, and afterwards couldn’t eat it.

"It’s the same with NLP, except you don’t get sick.

"It’s a visualisation technique which can be very powerful, but it’s nothing like hypnosis."

With her submission accepted last week, she is hopeful about getting through to the top 150 in the start-up category.

MORE TOP STORIES Mrs Harris, from Rushmore Hill, said: "I was just watching TV a couple weeks ago and saw the advert, my ears perked up and I thought why not enter, I’ve got nothing to lose.

"The main thing is to grow the business and help people, not just in the UK but ideally globally.

"Obesity is a huge problem and it’s costing the NHS millions, I can’t cure the world with one DVD but if I can put a preventative measure out there to stop people or help them lose weight it’s a start.

"It would be great to put it out in countries where they don’t have an NHS or access to gastric bands and such."

Although she stressed it is not marketed as a diet as it is aimed at anyone with a craving to beat, be it for diabetes or high cholesterol.

The technique works for all types of food and even drink, and over the years the top foodstuff people have tried to conquer was chocolate, with crisps coming in second.

She added: "Even if we don’t make it through it’s a great opportunity."

The 55 minute DVD costs £19.99, and for more information or to enter visit: www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/start-up/pam-harris-consultancy/