IT was third time lucky for Kidd- erminster's new carnival queen, Page-Leanne Price, when she clinched the coveted title in a hotly contested competition.

For the 15-year-old King Charles I High School pupil, it was her second bid to be queen and she had also been a princess contender when she was younger.

Proud mum, Paula Detorre, missed Sunday's competition at Kidderminster Town Hall as she is in the late stages of pregnancy and Page-Leanne - the eldest of four children - was hoping the surprise would not result in the early arrival of her new brother or sister!

The judges - who included the retiring queen, Rebecca Adderley - had a tough job deciding her successor from an impressive line-up of 15 contestants.

Earlier, judges, including MP, Dr Richard Taylor and his wife, Christine, had the unenviable task of choosing two rosebuds from 40 young hopefuls.

In the end, it was six-year-olds Hollie Rawlings and Jaimee Jones who won the day.

Hollie, a pupil at Comberton First School, was inspired to enter after her friend, Chloe Meese, was picked to be a rosebud last year, while Offmore First School pupil, Jaimee was given the confidence to have a go after winning dancing competitions on holiday.

Twenty-one girls, aged 10 to 13, entered the princess contest, which was won by 10-year-old Sophia De Beer, a previous rosebud contestant who attends St Ambrose RC Primary School.

Carnival vice-chairman, Peter Picken, who compered the event, with help from the out-going queen, said: "All the girls who entered the competitions can be very proud of themselves.

"We thank them for talking part and hoped they enjoyed the experience."

The queen and her entourage will ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the carnival parade on Saturday, June 24 and be VIP guests at the Brinton Park showground.

This year's carnival will raise funds for the Acorns Children's Hospice, Worcester, which cares for life-limited children from around the county, including Wyre Forest.

Donations will also go to the district's Night Stop charity, which helps homeless young people, and Cancer Research UK.