A CHESTER schoolgirl is on the verge of reaching the Miss Teen Queen UK grand final.

Ellie Ricketts, 14, is down to the last 450 girls in the country and will feature on the competition website next month, when people can vote for her to compete in the August decider.

A total of 4,500 teenagers entered the beauty contest, which selects two girls in the 13-15 and 16-19 age groups to represent the UK in an international pageant.

Ellie, who attends Bishops' High School in Chester, was picked to enter the competition after being spotted by organisers at Clothes Show Live in Birmingham in December 2006.

Last month she was told she was one of the last 450 girls, with 50 appearing on the website each month leading up to the final, and four girls, two from each age group, selected to go through.

Ellie's proud mum Joanne, of Great Sutton, said: 'We couldn't believe it when she got stopped at the Clothes Show and asked to enter.

'Now she's down to the last 450 we're all really excited. We didn't know whether anything would come of it but she's done really well.'

Last month Ellie travelled to Fairlight Studios in London for a photo shoot and her pictures will feature on the website.

* For more information, visit www.teenqueenuk.com