A BRAVE teenager who battled cancer while still going to school and raising money for charity has been crowned the winner of a prom makeover.

Four deserving girls made it into the final of the Worcester News Belle of the Ball competition, but it was Ellie Philpotts who won the hearts of our readers.

Almost 33,000 votes were cast in our online ballot and 46 per cent of those went to the 16-year-old from Kidderminster, who attends King Charles I High.

Her prize is a brand new prom dress, worth up to £330, from Lacewings in Astwood Road, Worcester, along with a new hairstyle courtesy of nearby salon Holistic Hair.

Yesterday, delighted Ellie was invited to the shop to try on some of the gorgeous gowns.

She said: “I was really shocked – I didn’t expect to win. I was really overwhelmed by it.

"I didn’t think so many people would be voting. Everyone at school has been really supportive.

“It’s been really exciting to try on the dresses – it’s so nice to have a look through them and be pampered.”

Proud mum Beverley said: “The support has been fantastic from everybody. All the girls were so deserving.

"The prize is fantastic and we were overwhelmed by the support.”

Ellie was voted the winner from scores of exceptional girls who were put forward by their classmates for a prom makeover, having received every one of the nominations from her school.

She underwent extensive chemotherapy following a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but still attended school when she could and since recovery, she has raised money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The budding journalist and keen photographer is currently busy revising for her GCSE examinations, which began last week, before the school prom takes place on Friday, June 22.

Sharon Farmer, owner of Lacewings, said: “There has been an overwhelming response and it just shows that everybody cares.”

“Life is hard and we have to all fight for different things. We wanted to help make life a little easier in some way for these girls and we’ve had some lovely feedback from the schools.

“It’s been wonderful to be part of something like this.

"It’s been a really nice experience and I look forward to seeing Ellie in the dress she chooses.”