A DRAGONS’ DEN contestant has secured an investment from business titan Peter Jones who will help his drone hire company take flight.

Mark Boyt, owner of Drone Safe Register in Bognor, faced the Dragons on the hit BBC2 show Sunday night.

His company is a database website which helps UK businesses track and hire licensed drone pilots who have permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate drones.

Mark flew a drone from the lift and landed it in front of the dragons.

Then despite a stumbling start where he had almost forgotten his pitch, he received three offers from the panel.

The 41-year-old, from Bognor, said: “I was extremely delighted to have received an offer from Peter Jones.

“I am also pleased for my members as this investment presents more opportunities for them.

“Originally he offered me £60,000 and 50 per cent of the business.

“However I negotiated and got 40 per cent. I was honoured to have received another two offers from Jenny Campbell and Tej Lalvani.

“Ultimately I chose Peter Jones because he is the tech man and I know his team can help me make my company more successful.

“He and his team will be actively marketing our services, offering safe and legal pilots for hire nationwide.

“We are talking to some quite big players now.”

Mark admitted he was very nervous when facing the dragons’ intense grilling session.

He said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

“I came with determination to secure an investment so when I was in the den it felt like a life or death scenario.

“I felt like I had aged ten years.”

Mark started his business in 2015 after working in marketing at a used cars sale company.

When he found many people in his area were operating drones illegally, he thought there was a market for drone hire.

He said: “I have an approved licence from the Civil Aviation Authority.

“We have more than 400 professional and 500 hobbyist members.

“Drone hire business is in demand. Our biggest markets include construction companies carrying out high level inspections such as building checks.

“The other is property marketing.

“Since I started the business, I have worked between 14 to 18 hours a day.

“I’ve sacrificed a lot for everything I’ve done and it has all paid off.

“We have a business turnover of half a million.

“All the money has gone back to the business.

“I want to thank my partner Corina who gave up her job as a teaching assistant to look after our kids while I worked on my business.

“She supported me the whole way. Corina has always believed in me and she is just simply amazing.”