SIXTEEN girls rode side saddle on scooters around a Blackburn ballroom to the applause of hundreds of dancers.

They were competing in the ‘Wonder Set’ Roman holiday contest, at the Locarno ballroom.

The scooters, driven by members of Blackburn Scooter Club, were the modern-day equivalent of Roman chariots.

And once in the ‘forum’, the girls paraded before a panel to be judged on good grooming, dress sense, personality, and hairstyle.

Carole Redhead, from Blackpool, was chosen as the town’s representative at the national final, although in third place was Irene Pickering, of Bispham Road, Nelson, who was celebrating her 21st birthday.

She was then Miss Nelson and Carnival Queen of the UK.