A 23-year-old wedding organiser said she was shocked to be crowned this year’s Miss Cumbria.

Claire Bell, who lives on the outskirts of Carlisle near Belle Vue, said she was “ready to go home” from the event at Harraby’s Community Theatre on Saturday when her name was read out by the panel of judges.

As part of the event, contestants competed in four rounds, including showcasing their favourite eveningwear and sportswear on the catwalk. They also had to come up with their own outfit from sustainable sources.

“I entered in 2012 but decided to have another go,” said Claire, who organises weddings at Carlisle’s Tullie Hous e.

“I really wasn’t expecting to win at all, though. I was ready to go home but then the judges read my name out. It was crazy.

“They knew I’d entered in 2012 and said that I’d grown so much. I really enjoyed it last time but I thought I was quite quiet so I wanted to make sure that this time I was a lot more confident.”

As part of her fundraising – one of the requirements for contestants – Claire organised a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

Now, after securing a semi-final place in the Miss England competition, she said she is preparing to do it all over again.

“I think I’ll have a bit of time off, first,” she added. “I’ll be doing more fundraising and also making more outfits but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Finishing in second place was 20-year-old Abigail Rayson, from Cockermouth, while Emily Conroy, 22, from Annan, finished third.

The top three places of the Junior Miss Cumbria competition were all won by girls from Carlisle, with 16-year-old Abbie Wilson taking the crown ahead of Maya Pearce, 15, who finished second and 16-year-old Alexandra Whitfield, who finished third.

Awards were also given to the girls who raised the most money for Variety, the children’s charity as well as awards for personality, popularity, publicity and eco-fashion.

Mark Jones, regional organiser for Miss England, said: “I always love coming to Cumbria to do our shows but I think this was probably my favourite.

"I had a comment after the show from one of our sponsors saying that they love coming because we have ‘real girls’ who everyone can identify with.

“There was a real mix of personalities and girls from different backgrounds in the show, which somehow conjured up the perfect night. It was at times hilarious fun and at others deeply emotional, a real rollercoaster for the audience.

“It’s just a shame that ultimately there can only be one winner in each age group as all the girls had worked tirelessly and it was a joy to see their confidence grow throughout the process.”