Reggae Reggae Sauce founder Levi Roots has shared his Dragons' Den secrets at the launch of a £3.3m business centre in Gainsborough.

The singer-turned-chef-turned-business cult hero turned on the charm at the new Mercury House venue, off Foxby Lane.

He had been invited as the star turn to inspire other fledgling firms at the purpose-built replacement for the Gainsborough Waterfront Enterprise Centre, in Lea Road.

Nominated for best reggae singer at the 1998 Mobo awards, Levi hit the high notes after his appearance on Dragons' Den.

The father-of-seven revealed yesterday that his business is now the second-biggest sauce seller in the country after only 18 months.

And he praised the new centre – which will provide start-up and incubation units for fledgling firms.

"I'm living proof that all you need is to have a dream, passion, planning and support.

"After 15 years at the annual Notting Hill Carnival selling the sauce which my grandmother taught me to make when I was nine I got £1,000 from Greater London Enterprise.

For more details of the Mercury House development, see Thursday's Echo.