Baggies masks men to face the dragons

Albion-supporting entrepreneurs Chris O'Nyan and Dean Walton, from Great Barr, along with partner Ray Duffy, approached the dragons in a bid to grow their mask-making business Mask-Arade, with their appearance to be screened tonight on BBC2.

The Warwickshire-based business was responsible for producing 3,000 faces of ex-Baggies boss Mowbray which were worn by supporters during Albion's last game of the season at Blackburn.

The manager has since departed for Celtic since Albion's relegation from the Premier League but the stunt in May earned plenty of attention from him and his players.

The company had also hoped to welcome new manager Roberto Di Matteo in similar style with 20,000 masks at Saturday's season opener against Newcastle but the offer was politely declined by the Italian.

Mask-Arade also supplied 6,000 Ricky Hatton masks when the boxer took on world champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, in May.

The brave businessmen made a stylish entrance when they walked onto the BBC2 show, wearing specially produced masks featuring the faces of the dragons Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meadan, James Caan and Peter Jones.

Company bosses have to keep the outcome of their encounter with the Dragons secret until the show has been aired.

Co-owner Ray Duffy, from Leamington Spa, said he would be watching the show tonight with about 40 friends in the local pub.

"It was brilliant, a really great experience, and I would encourage anyone with an idea to go on it," he said.

"It was such a well-run operation, like a military operation. It was very nerve-wracking in the run-up as you put yourselves under such pressure not to take it lightly."

Mask-Arade produces personalised party products including masks, life-size stand-ups and face-shaped greetings cards at www. mask-arade.com