DANCER and gymnast Fern Biss has been crowned Bridport Carnival Princess for 2007.

The 14-year-old Sir John Colfox School pupil came top with the judges at Saturday night's selection evening.

She will lead the carnival procession on August 18 and will be joined by junior princess Lani White, aged seven, and attendants Danielle Lewis, 12 and Gemma Nokes 14.

The annual search for a carnival princess is sponsored by the Bridport News and gives readers the chance to have their say along with the judges on the night.

As well has posing for a picture for the News and telling readers their likes and dislikes and why they want to be a princess, each girl must also attend the selection evening which includes a family disco at the Conservative Club in North Street.

There the girls are further quizzed by the judges to ensure they are up to the task of representing the town and News readers votes are used to break any ties.

Judges included members of the carnival committee and Scott Bowley, of carnival sponsor Austen Whetham & Guest solicitors.

Fern told readers that Bridport has a friendly atmosphere and likes the fact everyone knows each other but she doesn't like the bus station because it is unattractive compared to the rest of the town.

She enjoys being with her friends, dancing, acting and gymnastics and said she likes watching and participating in the carnival.

Sir John Colfox School pupils Danielle and Gemma were also among News readers favourites in the hotly fought senior competition, which saw just a handful of votes separating girls in three of the top five places.

Danielle likes Bridport because it is near the beach and her friends but thinks there should be a few more active things to do such as an ice rink. Gemma likes Bridport because everyone is friendly and outgoing and there are always things happening, but she agrees that there could be more for teenagers to do in the evening. She likes the great ideas used to create floats for the carnival and thinks the atmosphere is fantastic.

Carnival chairman Shaun Fox said: "It was really hard to pick between the girls this year and News readers' votes were vital in both the junior and senior competitions.

"Fern was very confident in herself, which is what we need, and she came across well on the night, but it was tough to separate the rest to pick the attendants. It was very close between a number of the girls.

"We hope they will all enter again next year as any one of them would be up to the job."

Mr Fox said it was also a close run thing in the junior competition with four of the younger girls particularly standing out. In the end Junior Princess Lani was crowned after coming top in the poll of News readers.

The pretty seven-year-old is a pupil at Powerstock School.

She says there is nothing she dislikes about Bridport and thinks it is fun to go out on a sunny day.

In her spare time she likes playing with her friends. Her favourite thing about carnival is watching the floats go by.

* Entry forms for the Bridport Carnival procession with details of the classes and cash prizes on offer are available from Longs fish and chip shop, the Bridport News office, Austen Whetham & Guest Solicitors and AG Down in South Street.