She is planning a charity football match and is in talks with Leamington FC about holding the event at the New Windmill ground next month.

The 18-year-old student journalist from Warwick has begun her fundraising campaign as part of the Miss Charity round of the Miss England competition and has chosen to donate proceeds to fashion designer Eric Way's Walk With Cancer initiative.

And if she makes enough money for the cause, which supports the Institute of Cancer Research, Miss Dargan will be fast-tracked into the final of the national contest.

She said: "It's a fact that one in three of us will contract cancer at some point in our lives and every year cancer claims the lives of 150,000 people in Britain. "The institution is looking to determine the causes of cancer, better methods of diagnosis and prevention."

Miss Dargan hopes for the support and donations of businesses and residents. Visit www.bmycharity.com/amydargan or email www.amydargan@hotmail.co.uk