A BEAUTY contest is being held to decide who will be crowned the next Miss Newcastle.

Contestants will be judged by a celebrity panel at Sutherlands Cabaret Club, High Felling, Gateshead.

The charity event is being organised and hosted by the current title holder Sonia Hassanien, 21, of Fatfield, Washington.

The top three girls will gain automatic entry in the Miss Earth UK competition.

The successful Miss Newcastle will qualify for the Miss England finals in Liverpool Olympia, from August 4 to 6.

She will also spend the next year being paid for public engagements and be signed up to a modelling agency.

Ms Hassanien said: "There are millions of opportunities for the winner and it is great fun."

The final is being held on May 20 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £6 and are available from the club by calling 0191- 469 1431. Proceeds go towards Women's Aid and the Variety Club of Great Britain.

Anyone wanting to enter the competition is asked to contact Ms Hassanien for entry details on 0797 7498782 or 0191-415 1326.

Send entries by post using the forms available at www.bcnews.co.uk/enter and include two photographs, one face, one full length, with a stamped addressed envelope, to Miss Newcastle, 2 Duxbury Park, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8BJ.