The mother of a Shropshire beauty queen who wooed judges with her talents to scoop the top prize of the county competition and reach the Miss England finals has spoken of her pride.

Kerry Price, 22, from Belle Vue, Shrewsbury – now known as Miss Shropshire – proved her looks and charm were top class when she came face-to-face with the reigning Miss England on Sunday.

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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, who works for the NFU in Wem, is now preparing for the Miss England finals which will be held at London’s Hilton Metropole hotel on July 20.

Her mum Alison Jones, of Belvidere, Shrewsbury, said it was her own mother who had first suggested her daughter enter the contest.

Mrs Jones said: “Her nan said she should enter and she said ‘okay anything for a bit of peace’.

“When she was before the judges she was so funny because they asked her what her talents were and she said ‘I can sort of sing, I can sort of dance but I can make a cracking omelette’.

“I would have kicked myself if I hadn’t had gone on Sunday. Kerry was gobsmacked.

“The judges looked over us and said her name and I just burst into tears. The family next to us had only come in for lunch and they were in tears as well.

“We are all very proud – I’m over the moon for her.”

Mrs Jones, her husband Steve and Miss Price’s brother Matthew, 13, are now preparing to travel to London for the Miss England finals in July.

After taking the runner-up place, Teri Kempton, 23, a sales representative from Donnington, Telford, will be on stand-by if Miss Price cannot attend the Miss England finals.

The young women also raised £1,500 for the National Autistic Society through the competition heats.

By Kirsty Smallman