Monday, March 28 2005 09:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Rita Sharma has emerged as the richest Asian woman in London with a wealth of 95 million pounds, 20 years after she set up her own small travel business.

Along with her husband Rahul, the 44-year old Sharma is also part of the 21st richest Asian couple in Britain.

Although born in the Punjab, she was brought to this country as a baby and grew up in the suburbs of Ilford.

Her father manufactured women's garments for C & A and her mother was a housewife.

According to the Asian Rich List, the family were not poor, but from an early age she knew that she wanted more.

"I saw my parents work all the hours God gave and they just had enough for food and the basics of life. There was never room for extras. I never wanted to end up like them."

She started working at the lowest level in a travel firm and was soon almost running it. At the age of 25, in 1986, she decided to go into business for herself and has never looked back.

Today she owns an online travel company - Best At Travel, which employs 100 people with an annual turnover of 50 million pounds.

She has been married to the Indian-born Rahul, the company's financial director, for 18 years.