A Carnival queen shortage has plunged carnival organisers into crisis.

Just two and a half weeks remain until the new Braintree carnival queen is chosen but only one young girl has entered the contest so far.

Carnival Committee member Pat Watson said: "We have had a carnival queen since the event started in 1964 and there has never been a problem like this trying to get one.

"I don't know why we are having such trouble this year. All the girls who have done it before have really enjoyed themselves. They get to make friends with the other carnival queens and travel around the South-east.

She added: "It is definitely not a beauty competition. It's a prestigious position to represent the town and we are looking for girls who can do this - not girls who look like models."

The crisis is in stark contrast with neighbouring town Witham which boasts Britain's best carnival queen.

Witham's Joanna Hendricks has been such a success she has just been crowned the nation's Carnival Queen of Queens.

The popular 23-year-old scooped the prestigious national title after impressing judges at St Neots in Cambridgeshire last month.

Now Braintree is hoping to follow Witham's example. Mrs Watson said the winner of the competition will also take pride of place at functions in the town and is given an elegant outfit to wear at the events by the carnival committee.

The Braintree competition is open to any girl or woman aged between 16 to 24 by June 24 and who lives in Braintree, Bocking or one of the following villages - Stisted, Panfield, Rayne, Black Notley, Cressing, Gosfield, or Bradwell.

Anyone wishing to enter should ring Mrs Watson on 01376 551969.

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