A VERY important date has been set by Bolton beauty queen hopeful as she bids for a crown.

Laura Hooper, from Heaton, is bringing Wonderland to town with a special charity event next Sunday.

The 22-year-old, who is currently competing for the Miss Lancashire title, is preparing to host a Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Decking out her local church, St Luke's in Chorley Old Road, with cards, cups and candles, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired event will raise funds for Variety, the children's charity.

Miss Hooper said: "As part of the Miss Lancashire pageant you are asked to fundraise for Variety. It is a really worthwhile charity, helping poor and disadvantaged children in Bolton and all over the country, and as a children's dance teacher, it's a cause that's close to my heart.

"I decided to sign up for the contests after seeing an advertisement online where it talked about building confidence so I thought I would give it a go.

"The competition encourages being creative, so as a dance teacher that's right down my street! It's quite a lot of fun and you have to be self-directed to raise the money for the charity. I like the challenge!"

Her fight for the Lancashire crown is Miss Hooper's second bid for a crown after coming second in the race for the Miss Bolton and Bury title in July, losing out to former St Joseph's RC High School pupil Beth Dove.

With the Miss Lancashire pageant taking place in October, the former Canon Slade School pupil is hoping her tea party will work its magic on the community and win her plenty of support on the day.

She added: "I am a Bolton girl born and bred and would really like to do something good to put Bolton more on the map!

"I came up with the idea of the tea party myself and have been using bits and bobs I've found, including packs of cards, to create centre pieces and give it a real feeling of Alice in Wonderland.

"There will be cakes and teas on offer, I'll be doing all the baking myself beforehand.

"People don't have to come dressed up but if they want to that would be great!"

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party will run from 2pm to 5pm at St Luke's CoE Church.