IT must be every little girl's dream to be a gala queen, wearing a flowing white dress and crown, being the centre of everyone's gaze and looking beautiful.

But for the lucky girl who is picked to be the queen of this year's Thornton Cleveleys gala, it will be a double honour, because this year marks the 100th anniversary of the annual festival.

She will lead the procession not just with her own Prince Charming, ladies-in-waiting, princess and attendants as usual but also with a host of former queens and Prince Charmings from years gone by.

Organisers of the gala have been getting in touch with former gala stars, many of whom are now scattered all over the country, and inviting them to join the procession for the centenary celebrations.

It's still not too late for would-be starlets to audition for a part in this historic gala procession as the judging is being held at the Lecture Hall, at Four Lane Ends in Thornton on Sunday (Jan 25) at 1.45pm.

Any secondary school pupil can audition for the parts of the gala queen, Prince Charming or lady-in-waiting.

And any junior school pupil can try their luck or the parts of princess or attendants to the queen. Boys are equally welcome to audition for the attendants' roles.

Entrants must either live, or go to school, in the Thornton and Cleveleys area.

Competitors do not need to come in special clothes, younger ones will be asked to parade for the judges while older participants will be asked to read a short piece.

Anybody who is able to loan a desperately-needed 20ft flat-back vehicle or lorry to the gala organisers for the procession on June 13 should get in touch with Christine Sugden on 821195 or Sheila Croft on 856064.

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