From left: Teri Kempton, reigning Miss England Laura Coleman, Kerry Price and Lucy Westley

A 22-year-old office worker has been crowned Miss Shropshire and is now on her way to the Miss England finals.

Kerry Price, 22, of Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, took the title last night after beating off competition from nine other beauties.

• To see pictures of all the Miss Shropshire finalists click here

The reigning Miss England, Laura Coleman, was on the panel of five judges at Bada Bing in Telford Shopping Centre after flying in from Thailand.

Miss Price is now preparing for the Miss England finals which will be held at London’s Hilton Metropole hotel on July 20.

Rhona Shafik, Miss England heats organiser, said: “The Miss Shropshire final was fantastic. They all did brilliantly. It was a very difficult choice for the judges.

“It is rare to see marks so close, it was very, very tight,” she said.

Second place went to Teri Kempton, 23, a sales representative from Donnington, Telford, and Lucy Westley, 20, a receptionist of Ketley Bank, Telford, was third.

The women also raised £1,500 for the National Autistic Society and Layla Weirowski, 20, a student, of Market Drayton, was named Miss Charity for raising the most cash – £460.

Geography student and gymnastic coach, Sarah Jane Howard, 21, of Burlton, Shrewsbury, was Miss Popularity.

Mrs Shafik said Miss Shropshire would be up against 50 others at the Miss England finals with the winner going to the Miss World competition in Johannesburg.