TWO little girls are brimming with excitement as they prepare to lead the procession at this weekend's Uplyme Fete.

Six-year-old Suzie Rood has been selected as the fete princess on Saturday, with four-year-old Rosie Vincent as her deputy.

The pair, both pupils at Mrs Ethelston's Primary School, were selected by a panel of local artists as the winners of a drawing competition to find the fete's royal party.

The theme of the competition was 'where I live' and judges Shuna George, Sue Wells and Moya Paul were impressed with Suzie and Rosie's colourful entries.

They praised Suzie for her “great composition and good sense of Uplyme community”, while Rosie's entry showed “great colour, design and personality”.

The girls will lead the procession from Mrs Ethelston's, travelling in a pony and trap to the fete at the playing field.

Suzie, who moved from Nottingham to Uplyme this year with her parents Gail and Steve, said of her winning entry that she loves her new home because “it's beautiful and the people are nice”.

Mrs Rood said: “She's really excited because she's never won anything. She really didn't think she was going to win so she's thrilled.

“She's got her tiara ready.

“I think she might be a bit nervous when she's got all the people looking at her but at the moment she's really excited.”

Her competition entry showed scenes of the village, including the village hall, school and church and trees and flowers.

Rosie's mother Sarah Vincent said: “She's so excited, she didn't expect to win at all.

“They did an assembly in school and she was mesmerised by the fact they were going on a horse and cart, so she was just over the moon when she found out she could do it.”

Rosie's entry was a collage of her house and garden, including the washing line, trampoline and flowers.

The girls will be joined in the procession by the Karizma Majorettes, local Cubs, Beavers and Brownies, and local dignitaries including MP Neil Parish, Lyme Regis mayor Sally Holman, and Axminster mayor Jeremy Walden.

Antiques Roadshow star Paul Atterbury, the fete's guest of honour, will also take part in the procession and present Suzie and Rosie with their awards.

More attractions have been announced this week, including River Cottage head chef and Uplyme local Gill Mellor, who will be bringing his speciality hog roast.

Gill said: “This will be a very special event for me as it enables me and colleagues to bring all the culinary talents that we offer right into the centre of my local community.”

Barbecues, cream teas and produce from the 50 stallholders will also tempt the taste buds.

Boasting rights are at stake as the local fire and lifeboat crews will go head-to-head in a best-of-three tug of war.

Already the psychological games have started, with Dave Street from the lifeboat crew claiming the firemen “should win hands down because they are twice the size of us”.

Fireman Jeff Mathews said having beaten the lifeboat men in recent skittles and raft race contests, they were “expecting to make it three in a row”.

Run-down of the day

UPLYME Fete is on Saturday, June 15 from 2pm to 5pm at Uplyme Playing Fields.

Attractions will include falconry, magic and juggling, dancing and bands, competitions, food and refreshments.

A grand draw includes almost 30 prizes, and star prize is a 30-minute flight over Lyme Regis.

Entry programmes, which include a draw entry, are now on sale at local outlets for £2 (accompanied children free).