A MARTIAL arts expert swapped her black belt for a tiara to be crowned this year’s Kidderminster Carnival queen.

Fifteen-year-old Hannah Rees, who has practised Tae Kwon Do for seven years, took the title in a strong competition at Kidderminster Town Hall on Sunday. It was second time lucky for the Baxter College pupil, who had entered the contest last year and was “thrilled” to be picked against nine other contestants.

Hannah, who also helps with the 3rd Kidderminster Brownies, said: “I like taking part and dressing up. It means a lot to me to win and I’m looking forward to the carnival.”

King Charles I High School pupil Katie-Lee Chadwick wowed this year’s judges to take the princess title for the second time.

The 13-year-old competition stalwart entered every year, first as a rosebud, from the age of six until she was chosen as princess in 2011.

She said the experience was “so good” last time she could not resist entering again and was thrilled to be picked from a strong line-up of 13 hopefuls.

Judges faced a tough task choosing this year’s two rosebuds from 26 six to nine-year-olds.

The winners were St John’s CE Primary School pupil Daisy Riddle, 9, who enjoys sport and singing, and Carys Carmody, 6, who attends Franche Primary School and is a member of theatre arts group Stagecoach.

Town centre manager Jackie Roberts, who compered the competitions, said: “The judges had an unenviable task and all the girls were winners for taking part.”

The girls each get to choose a dress for the carnival from The Wedding Rooms, Bewdley Road, Kidderminster and will be presented with cash prizes on the day.

The judges included Kidderminster mayor John Aston, last year’s carnival queen Hannah Cornish, representatives from the town twinning committee and the Hospital League of Friends. Sound was provided by Adrian Beavis.

This year’s carnival, at Brinton Park on Saturday June 22, will raise money for the friends’ scanner appeal.