A BLAKEDOWN woman who works in the construction industry will be swopping her hard hat for high heels at a regional beauty pageant final.

Katie Stamps, 21, is in the running to be named Miss Birmingham after being selected from 150 girls online.

The office manager for a Worcester construction firm has also been busy raising funds for disabled children's charity Variety as part of her duties.

She said: "I work in a very male-orientated environment but it hasn't stopped me pursuing this for fear of what other may say or think.

"This competition is a great opportunity to do and give back so much and I'm very grateful for my part in it."

If Miss Stamps is successful at the Miss Birmingham final on Sunday, April 27, she will go on to the national Miss England final in London.

To take part in the competition, each beauty queen needs to raise a minimum of £250 for Variety.

Miss Stamps will be doing a five-and-a-half-mile sponsored walk on Sunday and is hosting an online charity auction.

She also took at part in a Zumbathon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham hosted by the present Miss Birmingham.

She added: "Naturally I'd love nothing more than to win the competition and go on the Miss England finals down in London, but no matter what the outcome I feel I've learned and experienced a lot from the competition and it has inspired me to realise my potential and keep striving to achieve that."

To vote for Miss Stamps text MISS BIRMS05 to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus standard network message.

Donations can be given by visiting justgiving.com/KatieStamps