Last updated at 16:50, Tuesday, 21 August 2012

FURNESS beauties were flattered when they were told they could be the very first Miss South Lakes.

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Scouts headed to Barrow on Saturday to look for girls who could succeed in Miss South Lakes, which is a direct entry heat into the Miss England competition.

Girls were spotted while out shopping in Portland Walk and Dalton Road and encouraged to apply for the contest, which is not just a beauty pageant but also the search for a suitable ambassador for the area.

India Douglas, 20, of Dalton, was approached by the team, who included former Miss Morecambe, Stephanie Jackson.

Miss Douglas was in town asking businesses to display her posters publicising a charity auction for Families Matter, a counselling and support service in Furness which she is involved with.

Miss Douglas, who is a former Dalton Charter Princess, said: “I was a bit shocked really when they approached me. It was very flattering. I’m really excited about the competition.”

The Miss South Lakes team, which was based at the Imperial Hotel during the weekend, also went to Club M that evening to look for more potential entrants.

Mark Jones, the regional organiser for Miss England in the North West, said: “We had a really, really good day and we doubled our target. We are really pleased with the trip.

“The girls are very surprised to start with, it’s flattering for them – it’s not your standard shopping trip in Barrow to be pulled over by a former beauty queen.”

The girls were due to get a follow up email this week.

There is still time for more girls to get involved at the website www.misssouthlakes.co.uk.

The scouts will be back at Club M on Sunday August 26 during the bank holiday weekend.

The Miss South Lakes is open to girls who are aged from 17 to 24 years old on August 1, 2013.

The final takes place at Ulverston’s Coronation Hall in October.

The contest is run in association with Matalan and the North-West Evening Mail.

l The Family Matters charity auction which Miss Douglas is helping to organise takes place at Abbey House Hotel on September 14 from 7pm.

First published at 16:23, Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk