Mary Goves and Liam Pearson claimed the honours in the competition final at PR1 nightclub in Church Street.

Clad in stylish outfits from v8 Womenswear, the 10 female finalists took to the stage at the packed club to the sounds of Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and the Sugababes.

The 10 male contestants donned sporty streetwear from The Closet in Preston to make their mark on judge Michelle Billington from modelling and talent agency the Castings Factory.

Rock FM DJs Gemma Dee and Adam Catterall were on hand to entertain the enthusiastic crowd of relatives and revellers.

The 20 finalists in the competition, sponsored by Preston eaterie Burlingtons, were whittled down from hundreds of entrants by the Castings Factory and by readers of the Lancashire Evening Post, which supported the contest.

Mum-of-three Mary, of Lostock Hall said she was overwhelmed at winning.

She said: "My sister put me in for the competition after my little boy took a photo of me unexpectedly and I nearly fell out with her for doing it."

Liam, a remedial worker with Core Utility Solutions in Leyland, and from Delaware Street, Ribbleton, said: "My girlfriend put me in for a joke, saying I was 6ft 2in when I'm a midget of 5ft 10in."

The winners will take part in a professional photo-shoot with the Castings Factory, which represents models, TV presenters and actors.
If it goes well, they will be given a one-year contract with the Liverpool-based agency.

Agency owner Michelle said: "There were a lot of different characters with different looks and the people we picked were amazing."

Last year's winner, Amanda Thurlow, 20, of Longridge, now models regularly and is off to the Seychelles for the Miss Intercontinental finals.

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