Four Sussex working women are setting up a networking group for Sussex working women.

Their aim is to create a relaxed environment for women from all walks of life to meet and to foster contacts for business.

Sussex Women's Alternative Networking group (SWAN) is the brainchild of Diana Cella, director of Wise Monkeys, a web design company based at Falmer and mother of three young children.

Her partners in the enterprise are Southern FM radio presenter Nicky Keig Shevlin, teacher Rachel Horner, from Brighton, and self-employed designer Lisa Hallewell, from Ripe.

Diana said: "We all have different challenges professionally and would like to offer working women the opportunity to get together in a very relaxed networking group, which will also have an interest in Sussex business issues and be looking for ways to contribute to Sussex life generally.

"We can do this by ensuring that our members are aware of sponsorship opportunities, and charitable causes that we could help - as a group or within our individual businesses.

"Other ideas include an investment group and mentoring for new businesses.Wine tasting and group excursions to concerts are also quite appealing.

"We want to be different and we aim to be a high-profile organisation, with a great mix of successful business women, aspiring entrepreneurs and busy working mothers, those returning to work and women looking for a change of direction.

"It would be good to celebrate our contribution."

The launch party for SWAN is on March 1 at the Brighton Health and Racquet Club in Falmer, where SWAN member Heidi Stewart is the club support manager.

Working women, whatever their business or profession, will be welcome. Southern FM have donated a trip in Sky Patrol to give away at the party and there will be more suprises on the night.

A web site launched this week, www. theswangroup.co.uk, has more details of the new organisation.