IT will be tears of sadness and joy this weekend when Leanne Dollimore is crowned Miss Lostock Hall.

After three years of vying for the 'royal' title, the youngster's dreams will finally come true on Saturday, July 5, but her father will not be there to see his daughter's big moment.

As a soldier with the Queeen's Lancashire Regiment, Leanne's father Lee is currently part of the stabilising force in Iraq, stationed in Basra, until October.

But Leanne, of Studholme Crescent, Penwortham, will be accompanied by her four-year-old sister, Kora, who is stepping down as an attendant in the annual procession.

The girls' mum Joanne said: "It was bad timing. Leanne has had her heart set on becoming the carnival queen for a number of years and was really delighted.

"We didn't realise that Lee was going to miss it though."

Leanne, a pupil at Lostock Hall High School, will take part in the colourful procession along the festival route, starting at Tardy Gate, at 1pm.

As well as an assortment of colourful floats the line-up will include brass bands, Morris men, traditional dancers and vintage cars as well as local civic dignitaries.

Leanne's dress is a fitted ivory number with a long train. "She will look stunning," said Joanne.

But the family are planning to send bundles of pictures to Lee, who has been in the war-torn country for four weeks with the infantry unit, not far from where six British soldiers were shot dead in Majar Al Kabir last week.