Heading for the big time

After four months and numerous heats 17-year-old Nick Coyle and Kate Lindsay,18, both pictured, have been chosen as the winners by event organisers PMA model agency.

Nick is no stranger to hitting the headlines -- the England under 18s football captain nearly missed out on playing at Wembley recently after being struck with meningitis, but luckily recovered in time to attend the Model for the Millennium final as well as the game at Wembley.

Kate Lindsay, on the other hand, is a sixth form student at Arnold School, currently studying for her A-levels. Both Nick and Kate were spotted by scouts while out and about in the pubs and clubs in Blackpool.

Nick was seen chatting with his mates in Cahoots and Kate was discovered in, of all places, the toilets of The Waterfront. Tracey Atkinson, head of of PMA model agency, said the competition began in January in conjunction with The Wave, and a lengthy elimination process began to narrow down more than 500 hopefuls who either applied in writing or had been spotted around the town.

She said a number of heats were held at the club until a total of 17 finalists remained -- eight girls and nine boys. There should originally have been only eight boys but Nick's speedy recovery meant he and another runner-up were considered.

Tracey said: "The response was great and it was really hard to pick the winners, but Nick and Kate really shone through." Nick was really good fun, and his mates were just a good bunch of lads too. Kate was really confident, but down to earth with it, so she was a clear winner.

"The whole thing was a great success and I was amazed at how much talent was out there."

As well as nearly £1000 worth of vouchers and beauty treatments, Nick and Kate will be interviewed by top London model agency Models One, which represents models like Karen Elson and Yasmine Le Bon.

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