A SKIPTON woman will be flying the flag for her home town in an international beauty pageant that could see her crowned as Ms Galaxy.

Jan Bowers is representing Skipton in the Ms Galaxy UK final next year, and could go on to compete for the world title in Orlando if she is selected from hundreds of entries across the country.

She will take part in the national final in March and, if successful, will represent the country in the US for the Ms Galaxy World title in September next year.

But Jan must find a local sponsor to cover the £250 competition fee by the middle of next week, or she will not be able to take up her place.

She said: "I am not allowed to cover this myself as it is part of the pageant challenge to get sponsorship.

"But it does provide an excellent opportunity to get the a sponsor's name out there – and the name of Skipton, of course, on a national and, hopefully, international platform. I am very proud to represent my home town."

Jan says she will be looking to donate any prize money to Airedale Hospital, which has done "incredible work" in treating her father's cancer, as well as the care given to her close friend, Councillor Polly English, who died in 2014.

Jan was part of a group of Skipton residents that raised £43,000 to buy improved MRI scanning facilities for the hospital several years ago.

She added: "After a year of treatment, my dad is recovering well, so I would really like to help the hospital – it does such great work."

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Jan can e-mail preciouslady@mail.com or contact her on 07540 500958.