A BEVY of beauties is set to dazzle judges at Middlewich Civic Hall, today.

Young girls from across the county are expected to descend on the town on Saturday for the Miss Cheshire beauty pageant.

Now in its third year, the catwalk competition gives aspiring girls the chance to progress to the Miss Beauty Queen pageant in Cranage or even the world final in Chicago.

Organiser Neil Ednie, from Middlewich, said: “Miss Cheshire is a beauty competition to find the creme de la creme of girls in Cheshire and entrants have the potential for massive progression.”

It is split into the two categories – Miss Teen Cheshire for 13 to 18-year-olds and Miss Cheshire for 19 to 29-year-olds.

The day starts with an interview process at 10am where the girls talk to around six judges about their education and future aspirations.

Then the entrants have the daunting task of walking down the nine metre catwalk in front of the crowd from 6pm in fun fashion wear, sports wear and formal wear.

Mr Ednie, 24, added: “They have a great time meeting new friends and it’s a great confidence builder.

“The girls come in shy but when we work with them, they get a great sense of pride doing something for themselves.

“A lot come up to us and say they’ve always wanted to walk on a catwalk with all the lights and all the trimmings. It has a wow factor.”

Mr Ednie came up with the idea when he was watching Middlewich Rose Fete.

He said: “Middlewich has always had the Rose Queen so it seemed like a natural progression.

“You can only be a Rose Queen up to the age of about 12 and this is for girls who don’t want to stop there.

“This gives them the chance to continue in a safe and controlled environment.”