A TEENAGER from Comet country has been crowned Miss Hertfordshire 2006. Hayley Kruse, 17, beat 38 other finalists, including her sister Amy, to the title on Sunday at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage. She will now go on to represent the county at the

A TEENAGER from Comet country has been crowned Miss Hertfordshire 2006.Hayley Kruse, 17, beat 38 other finalists, including her sister Amy, to the title on Sunday at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.She will now go on to represent the county at the final of Miss England in Leicester on July 13 and 14 where she will compete against other girls for the national title.

Although Hertfordshire-born Miss Kruse is from Stotfold she is a student at the Knights Templar School in Baldock and therefore met the criteria for entering the competition.

She dazzled the audience and the six Miss Hertfordshire judges, including the current Miss England Hammassa Kohistani, and was the runaway outright winner.

Miss Kruse's mother, Sue, said: "It's not gone to her head. She's enjoying it and I still can't believe it. It was a fabulous night."

It was even more remarkable because the previous day Hayley, a member of the Herts Phoenix Athletics Club, had spent time in hospital after being studded in her leg during a run and had to cover it up before the final.

As winner of the competition Miss Kruse won a year's modelling contract, a professional photo shoot and an evening gown which she will wear to the final of Miss England.

Sunday's final began with the girls performing a dance routine on stage in cheerleading outfits. Then they changed backstage into their evening gowns and eventually the top seven girls were chosen.

They were each asked questions on stage and after giving their replies Miss Kruse was selected as the winner.

Miss Kruse's sister Amy also finished in the final seven, as did Letchworth GC's Bianca Lake.