Two aspiring beauty queens from the Helston area may compete for Miss England 2014 after reaching the final of Miss Cornwall.

Alyssa Harris, from St Martin, and Lydia Anne Catherall, from Porthleven, will compete against 19 other girls for the chance to be entered as Cornwall’s candidate for the title of Miss England.

Lydia, 17, a beauty therapy student at Penzance College, said: “I’m really excited. I did it last year and didn’t know much about it but now I’ve got the information hopefully I can do a bit better.

“I had such a laugh last year, meeting all the girls so it’s a really good experience.”

Alyssa, 21, a student of interior design and architecture at Falmouth University, said: “It’s a really great opportunity to raise money for charities.

“I’m really looking forward to taking part and it should be a really good event.

“There’s a catwalk opportunity, photographer, and the chance to dress up and meet new people.

“I’m probably looking forward more to beforehand and raising the money.”

Alyssa will be selling off her own art to raise funds for charity, and is organising a fundraising party to be held at Truro nightclub Vertigo in mid-March.

In the run up to the event, to be held on April 4 at The Cribbar pub in Newquay, the girls will have to undertake fundraising work for Beauty With a Purpose, the Miss World charitable organisation, and Clic Sargent, the charity for children with cancer.

They also have to capture the public imagination in a public phone and text voting system, with the contestant with the most support earning the title of Miss Popularity Cornwall and a boost to her chances in the overall competition.

Voting details for Alyssa, Lydia, and all the other girls can be found at www.missengland.info/regionals/cornwall.