A NEW queen and two princesses for the Basildon and Pitsea Carnival have been chosen.

Sarah Austin, 14, will be this year's queen, and Amy Pinkney, 12, and Charlie Coe, 13, will be the princesses.

The girls, all from Basildon, will appear at the carnival on June 21, and attend events across the country representing the town while raising money for good causes.

The procession, which starts at 12.30pm, will finish at Northlands Park where a fete, with stalls, bouncy castles and children's rides, will continue the party.

The carnival court was chosen by a panel of three judges on their personalities, dress style, looks and speech delivery.

George Coleman-Wood, chairman of Basildon and Pitsea Carnival Association, said: "The judges were very impressed with all three girls.

"Although they are all very young, they are very outgoing, streetwise and are fantastic speakers."

Mr Coleman-Wood, who has been chairman for over 25 years, added: "I am looking forward to carnival day and I hope this will be an event to remember.

"We want to see more people entering, because the more amusing floats, the better."

This year's carnival day will see a procession of floats, bands and majorettes, as well as the carnival court passing through Basildon town centre for the first time.