MARK Jones has the kind of job that many men dream of.

He spends his days scouring the streets of the North West looking for girls to represent their home towns in the regional heats of the Miss England competition.

And there was no shortage of potential entrants when he visited Bolton yesterday.

Mark said: “We are looking for someone who is going to be an ambassador for Bolton — but it’s hard to know what that looks like.

“They might not be your stereotypical beauty queen but should be someone who is proud of being from Bolton, is confident, who takes care of themselves and who will be a good role model.”

Hayley Stickland, a 19 year-old student nurse from Heaton, was one of the girls scouted by Mark.

She said: “It’s strange — I wasn’t expecting it at all!”

Lucy Partington, aged 22, was spotted while shopping for clothes to wear to her new job at fashion label LVMH.

She said: “I’m really shocked! I can’t believe it but I’m definitely going on the website and enter.”

Christina Hughes, aged 22 from Bradley Fold, said: “It’s a bit embarrassing! I’ve never even thought about doing anything like this.”

Mark also spotted Toni and Guy staff members Olivia Booth, aged 18 from Astley Bridge, and Jessica Weston, aged 23 from Harwood.

The girls must now send their photos to the selectors via the official Miss Bolton website, miss-bolton.co.uk, where it will be decided who has made it through to the final.

Mark is hoping there will also be more entries from girls he missed while on his scouting mission.

The competition is open to all women aged between 17 and 24 who were born, or have lived, worked or studied in Bolton.

Entrants must not be married or have children due to the amount of time spent travelling to glamorous locations if they become Miss England.

Deadline for entries is next Friday, March 12.