There are just 24 hours left for entries for this year’s 50th anniversary Accrington Carnival Queen contest - and there has been a flurry of last minute entries.

Gemma Grimshaw, 20, from Church, is a retail sales assistant whose interests and hobbies include cooking, socialising, reading and running. Gemma has blonde hair and blue eyes and spends her time off working in Nightlife on promotion. One day she wants to get back into professional catering and/or continue to climb the retail ladder to better her business acumen.

Sarah Louise Munroe, 19, from Baxenden, is a student and lifeguard/swimming teacher.

Sarah Louise Munroe, Accrington Carnival Queen entrant

She has blonde hair and blue/green eyes. Her hobbies include swimming, horse riding, going to the gym, socialising with friends, travelling, art and teaching swimming.

Her ambitions are to be a successful architect and own her own business and in the future to graduate from the University of Liverpool.

Budding actress Cassandra Jones, 17, from Accrington, enjoys dancing, acting, going to the theatre and cinema, and reading. Her ambition is to go to drama school and become a professional actress. She has brunette hair and hazel eyes.

Cassandra Jones, 17, has entered the Carnival Queen contest

The Accrington Lions organise the competition which will be held at The Brooks Club in Accrington on on May 28. They are still looking for more entrants, but you will have to be quick.

Women over 16, who live or work in Hyndburn, can sign up by calling Tracy Simmonds on 07971 772168 or May Edmundson on 07806 093068 by this Friday, May 22 at the latest.

The new Queen will play a big role in the upcoming Accrington Carnival celebrations on June 13.