NOW in its second year and well established in its own right, the St Helens Star's immensely popular Miss Starbud competition saw 12 lively little ladies battling it out for the top prize.

And after giving the judging panel a truly impossible task, the prize went to eight-year old Jennifer Hurst, from Billinge, who finally impressed all the judges with her cheeky charm.

After the event, Jennifer's delighted mum, Grace, told the Star: "We were very surprised but also very pleased that she won. I don't know whether she was nervous or not before she went on stage but I told her that the most important thing was to enjoy herself whether she won anything or not. As long as she had a good time, that was the only thing that mattered."

Grace said that Jennifer, who currently attends Billinge Chapel End Primary School, had first shown an interest in the competition after her older sister Helen had decided to try a bit of modelling. However, Grace had her doubts about allowing her younger daughter to have a go, as she said: "Jenny is a diabetic and takes insulin twice a day so I wasn't sure whether I wanted her mixed up in the modelling business at first but she really wanted to so I thought that as long as she didn't take it too seriously it would be OK. But she is thrilled with her prizes, especially the tiara. She has been going around everywhere showing it off to people."

In second place this year was seven year old, Melissa Howarth, while five year old Samantha Halligan came third and judging the event were: Steve Leary, editor of the St Helens Star; Caroline Ogunlana, who was representing Lady Attraction; Anne-Louise Winstanley, the manageress of Wendy's Florist; Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Alex Worth; and Debbie Carter, skin care specialist at Tyrer's Ltd.

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