An army engineer who has served in Afghanistan is gunning to win a national beauty pageant.

Louise Finlayson, 21, an army mechanic from North Cheam, has reached the final of contest Miss Galaxy England 2011 after scooping the title of Miss Surrey Galaxy.

She said: "I haven't told any of the boys in the army about it in case I don't win as I know they will wind me up about it."

She said she thought being in the army could help her chances of winning, after Miss England 2010 was soldier Katrina Hodge, 23, and was inspired by the victory.

She added: "To be in a pageant is something I have always something wanted to do."

The former pupil at Rosebery School in Epsom will be judged at the catwalk contest held at De Vere's Daresbury Park Hotel, Cheshire in February.

If she wins she will fly out to the pageant's international final in the United States in the summer.