A new carnival queen and two princesses have been chosen to represent Beccles for the next year after wowing the judges with their personalities and ambitions.

Nineteen-year-old Evangaline Robinson, of Bungay, has been crowned the new Miss Beccles, with eight-year-old Sophie Sampson from Beccles and 10-year-old Emma Rusted from Bungay, joining her as princesses.

Miss Beccles and her two attendants have been part of Beccles Carnival for more than 50 years, and each year a contest is held to find the perfect candidates. The girls were chosen from 19 entrants, split into two age categories.

Miss Robinson is employed as a dispensary assistant and her hobbies include horse riding, walking her dogs, shopping and going to the theatre. She has chosen Wetnose Animal Aid, based at Kirby Cane, as her charity for the year – a cause which is close to her heart as an animal lover.

She said: 'Winning Miss Beccles was a great honour and I am really looking forward to representing a great market town like Beccles over the forthcoming year.'

Albert Pye Primary School pupil Sophie has lived in Beccles all her life and entered the competition as her way of doing something for the town. Sophie is a member of the 1st Beccles Brownies and attends Beccles Carnival every year with her family. She has chosen to raise funds for her Brownie group. Ten-year-old Emma, who is currently head girl at Bungay Primary School, has chosen to raise money for Beccles Hospital as her cause for the year.

She said: 'I was very excited and happy to find out I had won. It was the first year I had entered and I really didn't expect to win.'

Emma enjoys hip hop dancing and looking after her pet rabbit.

The contest was held at Beccles Public Hall with music supplied by Moore Music Roadshow.

Carnival organiser Yvette Marie Tackley said: 'Our four judges had the very hard task of selecting our ambassadors for 2014 which was increasingly difficult due to the standard of contestants who entered this year.

'Our new Miss Beccles and princesses are looking forward to their first event next Sunday, June 8, where they will be attending Halesworth Carnival which leaves Blyth Road industrial estate at 1pm. So please come along and show your support for this great event and meet our new Miss Beccles and princesses on their first duty of the year.'

This year's Beccles Carnival will be held on August 17 and 18.

If you would like Miss Beccles and her two princesses to attend your event, call 01502 715671.