An aspiring beauty queen who wants to raise awareness of bullying in schools is hoping to be crowned Miss Great Britain South East.

Abbie Williams, 17, from Stoneleigh, has qualified for the finals of the competition, to be held in London on Saturday, July 18.

Famous faces including 1980s pop star Sinitta will judge Miss Williams and her challengers and, if she is successful in a number of categories, the travel and tourism student will go through to the national finals.

Miss Williams said it is the first time she has entered a beauty pageant and she is known as the "baby of the event" as she will turn 18 - the minimum age for participants - the day before the date the rules allow.

As part of the competition, the teenager is raising money for anti-bullying awareness through the Diana Award, an organisation set up in the memory of Princess Diana in 1999 which helps youngsters fulfil their potential.

She said the issue is close to her heart.

"It’s something I think there needs to be more of in schools. I have been a victim of bullying as well - girls in groups mostly. Schools need to make sure there’s more awareness of what happens," Miss Williams said.

Stoneleigh Brasserie, a restaurant which Miss Williams visits frequently with her family on Stoneleigh Broadway, is sponsoring her through this stage of the competition with £400. It has also pledged to help her raise money for the charity.

Miss Williams has so far raised £200 of her £500 charity target. Donate here.