IT'S curling tongs and compacts at the ready as competition hots up in Brannigans Miss Blackpool contest.

Three of the heats have already been staged at the nightspot with the fourth tonight (August 19) and the remaining heat scheduled for August 26 before the Millennium's Miss Blackpool is crowned at the final on September 2.

Two Fleetwood women have already won a place at the Imperial Hotel big bash with Caroline Porter and Charlene Rothwell each taking the top prize in their respective heats along with Sherene Fogg of Bury.

Entertainments manager Pete Schofield told the Citizen: "It's going great with the highest number of contestants recorded entering the contest for many years.

"And with the more relaxed attitude and some top trendy tunes the girls are all having a ball."

Pete let us in on the secret of how it all started over a simple cup of coffee: "Dominic Herdman, who's general manager of the Waterfront nightclub, and I were chatting about how the contest had been dropped by former sponsors Leisure Parcs and Dominic said why didn't Brannigans give it a go.

"So we had a chat with Blackpool's head of tourism Jane Seddon which went really well and I must thank Jane and her team for all her help so far and to say she will be one of the judges in our grand final."

Next on the agenda was to bring in top models Karen-Jean Smith and Sue Knight of Angels Elite Models and Promotions for that professional touch of glamour, plus Merrie England Bar's Joey Blower to compere along with Pete - and Brannigans were really in the beauty business.

Brannigans general manager Jim McIntyre is thrilled with the backing the venue has received for the venture from the likes of the Waterfront, Club Heaven and Hell, Blackpool Superbowl and Henderson Management which supplies all the top entertainment for Brannigans. He added: "This promises to be the best Miss Blackpool ever."

Local restaurant The Warehouse has also joined in the fun with a free meal laid on for finalists the night before the big event courtesy of proprietor Ian Sharples.

Miss Blackpool's first official engagement will be to light up the night as a guest at the Illuminations switch-on party on September 3.

Later at Brannigans chart-toppers Right Said Fred will be live on stage at midnight with their hits I'm Too Sexy and Deeply Dippy.

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