NINETEEN-year-old Vicky Basnett is the Millennium Miss Wirral Globe.

A talented tennis player who currently represents Cheshire, Vicky, who lives in Bromborough, served up a different kind of ace to catch the judges' eyes - and votes - at Friday evening's glittering grand final at Wirral's prestigious Craxton Wood Hotel.

The attractive blonde - she's studying Tourism Management and Spanish at Chester College - made a stunning impact on her very first appearance in a beauty contest.

Her proud parents, Gwyneth and Graham Basnett, and boyfriend Ben Smith, were as ecstatic as Vicky herself.

Vicky, who was crowned by retiring Miss Wirral Globe Emma Povall, of Claughton, wins a one week holiday for two at the Camping Holiday Marina in St Tropez (flights donated by easyjet), a portfolio by Marino, a professional hair drier from Andrew Collinge, a mobile telephone from Orange and a bouquet of flowers from Peaches and Herbs, of Wallasey Village.

Sixteen lovely girls (see panel below) took part in the grand final.

Runner-up was 21-year-old Linzi Broster, of Greasby, a full-time phlebotomist at Arrowe Park Hospital. Jemma Dermott, of Burton, who is currently taking a year out to complete courses in radio and television, was third.

The 'black tie' charity event was in aid of Mayor of Wirral Hugh Lloyd's Millennium Appeal Fund, which will benefit two local worthy causes - Wirral Library and Toy Centre, in Birkenhead, and Claire House Children's Hospice, who organised the evening.

An auction, conducted by local comedian Vince Earl, raised £550 - a 'Make Over' with renowned hair stylists Andrew and Liz Collinge fetched a bid of £250 and 'Swim with the Sharks', donated by the Blue Planet Acquarium, went for £300.

Each of our 16 finalists was sponsored by the following companies which had a table on the night:-

The Orange Shop, Bromborough - Danielle Sutton.

Bill Smith Motors - Vicky Basnett.

Felton Developments - Rebecca Wilson.

McEwan Wallace - Laura Pilling, of Oxton.

Darlingtons plc - Colette Miller, Prenton.

Redrock Developments (two tables) - Debbie Simmonds, Eastham, and Michelle Mealor, Rock Ferry.

Cheshire Recycling - Rachel Broome, Moreton.

Lookers - Kate Williams, Oxton.

Geoffrey Black Sports - Victoria Pridding, Prenton.

Holiday Marina - Olivia Byrne, Oxton.

The Wheatsheaf, Raby - Jemma Dermott, Burton.

Manor Builders - Jenny Turnbull, Oxton.

Pannell Kerr Forster - Linzi Broster, Greasby.

Windsors - Katerina Kyriazi, Bidston.

HBC Construction Ltd - Donna Rowlands, New Ferry.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.