A GROUP of beauty contestants are hoping to be crowned Miss England this weekend.

Miss Durham Carrianne Green, Miss York Georgina Horsley, Miss Newcastle Rebecca Burden and Miss Photographic Sonia Hassanien are battling it out for the title at the Olympia Theatre, in Liverpool.

They are up against 36 other girls from across the country in the event, which began with a talent show last night and continues today on the catwalk.

Twelve finalists will be chosen by judges, and the winner will be crowned by the current Miss England, Danielle Lloyd.

This year's contest has been dogged by controversy, with favourite Sarah Mendly criticised for entering because she is a Muslim.

For Miss Green, aged 20, from Darlington, winning the contest would help her realise her ambition of travelling the world.

Miss Horsley, 18, of Norton in York, became the first MS York in almost 20 years when the competition was resumed to raise funds for people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, hence its new name.

The student had a health scare herself shortly before the event, fearing she had breast cancer, but was given the all-clear.

The region also has an extra contestant. Sonia Hassanien, 21, from Sunderland, competed in last year's event, and was voted back for a second chance by visitors to the Miss England website.