THOUSANDS of people will miss the delights of Leyland Festival but one special girl will never forget the annual June gala.

As the crowned festival's millennium queen Helen Doige, of Charnock Street, Leyland, has earned herself a place in the history books as Leyland's last 'royal'.

The pretty 18-year-old student was the crowning glory of last year's event along with Danielle Smith as the Festival Princess -- both receiving their 'royal' titles in the main arena as always.

Helen said: "It's such a shame that the festival has ended after do long. And it's funny to think that I'll be the last queen.

"But throughout my year I've been doing lots of things. I've been to the Mayor's Ball, the Rotary Club's Ball and to other festivals in the area.

"It's been really good meeting other people as well as councillors. I'm glad that I've had the chance to be a festival queen for Leyland."

Annually, hundreds of teenage girls used to don their posh frocks and make their hair pretty in time for the contest to find the Festival Queen.

Since the start of the festival 112 years ago the prestigious title has attracted hundreds of teenagers from across the town -- all vying for the number one spot.

Now it has all come to an end with Helen never getting the chance to handover the sought-after crown and cloak to the next lucky candidate.

Just as Elizabeth Marsden was the first queen in 1899, Helen will be the last, after organisers revealed there would be no more festivals in the town.