CARING Miss Wiltshire finalists auctioned off dates with themselves to help raise funds for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children.

Seven beauty pageant finalists – including Miss Swindon Emma Salter and Miss Wiltshire Megan Bowyer – generated £230 for the Variety Club Children’s Charity by offering lads the chance to take them out for dinner.

The event at Mario’s restaurant in Old Town was organised by Miss Charity Wiltshire Rebecca Mitchell, whose brother Robert, 22, a sufferer of Worster-Drought Syndrome, which is a form of cerebral palsy, has been helped by the charity.

Rebecca, 18, who also recently raised £955 for the charity in a skydive, said: “It was even better than I ever expected.

“I was really worried the dates weren’t going to turn up, but in the end everyone made en effort, everyone got on like a house on fire and it was such a laugh.

“That £230 is going straight to the charity, and along with the cash I raised in the skydive, I really think it will be a great help.”

Rebecca, a customer service adviser at Big Yellow Self Storage in Greenbridge, was crowned Miss Charity Wiltshire at Liquid nightclub after raising the most money for the charity out of all the Miss Wiltshire contenders.

As part of her bid to generate more than any other regional Miss Charity winner before the end of May, the former Wootton Bassett School pupil convinced some of the other beauties to take part in an auction.

The girls on offer were Rebecca, Emma and Megan, as well as Miss Popularity Wiltshire Hannah Golding, top 10 contestant Sophie Ellen Archer and top 25 competitors Emma Dickson and Catissa Creighton.

The Adver published photos and write ups for each finalist, and male readers of any age could text in bids over a three-day period. Bids ranged from £10 to £100.

All seven girls and their dates enjoyed drinks, pasta and pizzas in the restaurant in Wood Street.

Rebecca, of Penhill, said: “All the guys were fine, it was the girls who were nervous.

“My date, Dean Whittaker, was absolutely lovely because he bid £100. I didn’t know who he was before the night but he was very nice.”

Rebecca plans future fundraising events as Miss Charity Wiltshire, including a live music night this summer.