HAMPSHIRE'S hopes to win Miss England were dashed last night.

A record four beauties from the county competed for the finals which took place in Southport, on July 20 and 21.

But all three winners of first, second and third place were from the north. The winner was Miss Preston - Elizabeth Grant, 20, a psychology student from Ribbleton, Lancashire.

Second place went to Miss Newcastle – Charlotte McIntosh, 19, from Gateshead and third place went to Miss Lancashire – Lucy Physick, 22, from Westhoughton.

The Hampshire ladies in the final are Isobelle Cooper, 18, from Southampton, Larissa Hirst, 26, from New Milton, and Nicola Ascroft, 22 from Basingstoke and Channon Kail, 20 from Portsmouth.

However two of the Hampshire girls, Larissa Hirst and Nicola Ascroft, got into the top 20 finalists of the contest.

Larissa, who has been in four Miss England finals said: “It was really fun. A lovely group of women to be on stage with. My favourite one yet.”

She added: “I was really happy with the girl that won.

"She will be a good ambassador for the country”

The other Hampshire contestants, Channon Kail and Isobelle Cooper, both said they enjoyed themselves and would try to enter the contest again next year.

Channon, currently Miss Hampshire made the top 20 in the talent round and was fifth in the public vote.

Her talent was dance and her routine was called ‘dance through the ages’, and as part of this she did a Charlston, a hand jive, and Michael Jackson Thriller and Beyonce style dances.