A Black Country firm which re-engineers waste paint so it can be used again has reached the final of a business competition run by Virgin.

Sandwell-based Paint 360 is in the final three of the 2016 VOOM Impact Award and has a chance to win a trip to Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island in the Caribbean.

The Impact Award is run by Virgin Unite, the charitable foundation of Sir Richard's Virgin group, and is designed to recognise businesses which measure impact as well as profit, such as how their products and services solve environmental problems.

Paint 360 re-engineers waste paint into quality paint developed for social housing or facility management.

It is estimated the UK generates 50 million litres of waste paint every year and each litre the company creates in turn saves enough carbon to drive a van carbon-free for five miles.

Eighty per cent of its product is from recycled paint and the company says it is committed to providing work for the long-term unemployed. It currently has around 14 staff.

Paint 360 beat 3,000 companies to reach a ten-strong semi-final before put through to the grand final on June 28 following a pitch event this week.

Managing director Lee Cole said: "Paint 360 is all about giving back to our local community and the environment. We're excited to be able to be a part of the final three.

"We're humbled to have made it through this far, the calibre of businesses involved has been really high and the pitch process has been challenging but enjoyable."

Anna Jones, entrepreneurship director for Virgin Unite and award judge, added: "They gave a credible and transparent pitch, it was very clear about what was needed to scale the business.

"This is clearly a business with a measurable impact. They saw it as a business which can make a profit while having people and planet embedded into its entire business model. I wish Paint 360 and the other finalists the best of luck in the final."

The other finalists are Devon-based The Creation Station, which hosts arts and crafts classes and events for young children, and MacRebur, from Dumfries, which is working on a new type of surface for roads.

The winner will receive a free trip to Necker Island for Virgin Unite's 'Leadership Gathering' next year along with mentoring, workshops and the chance to pitch to the Virgin Impact team for investment.