Carnival Queen title axed after 47 years

It is one of the oldest pageants in the country, but the competition to crown Tipton's Carnival Queen is being scrapped after almost 50 years.

Hundreds of girls have strutted their stuff in a bid to win the title but entry numbers have dwindled in recent years and after reports of squabbles amongst the girls, the decision has been made to end the event.

Organiser and former carnival queen Kayleigh Yeomans said: "Maybe girls are just getting less ladylike."

Glamorous Kayleigh won the title in 2006 and went on to become Miss Black Country. She then battled it out in the Miss England final in 2008, just missing out on the top spot.

The 20-year-old bank worker said she was proud to lead the parade through her home town, and has organised it every year since.

"I'm so sad to see it ending but it just not something we can carry on with," she said.

"For me being Tipton Carnival Queen was a real honour and it was the start of a really good time, it led on to a lot of things.

"But it has become really hard to organise. We don't get very many entries at all, and some of the girls who don't get picked can be absolutely vile, it gets very competitive."

The Dovecote Close resident added: "This is the longest running pageant in the country, it has been going for 47 years, I'm really sad about it ending but it's just got to the point where it's a real struggle to organise and we're not getting enough people entering.

"Girls aren't that interested anymore."

Competitions for the younger roles are still taking place, however. Entrants are being sought for the Rosebud, for nine to 11-year-olds, and Sweetpea, for five to eight-year-olds.

Entrants should be registered by March 18. Call 07974224039 to register.