Coventry girls have shunned the opportunity to become a top model, and the organisers of a competition are desperate for entries.

Artimis, based in Tile Hill, has been asked to put forward 20 girls to compete in a search for the country's top sports model - two heats of which will be held at the 2,400-capacity Ikon and Diva nightclubs.

Anyone who comes through the Coventry selections, the first of which will be staged this Friday, will go forward to a London final and have the chance to win £10,000 and a trip to Sydney, Australia.

Despite that, girls from the city have not come forward and Artimis owner Helen Millard admits it is disappointing that locals will not have the chance to scoop the prize.

She said:

"This is a competition which could lead to coverage on Sky Sports, a large sum of money and a trip to Australia.

"There are only 10 venues across the country being used for heats so any Coventry girls interested in modelling have been handed a huge opportunity to launch a career.

"There is also the added incentive that girls can use this as an audition for our agency and we would be happy to get regular work for them if they impressed on the night.

"At the moment we are going to bring girls to the event from all over the country but it will be a shame if someone from another city makes a huge career breakthrough when it could have been a Coventry girl."

SkyDome manager Ian Knight added:

He said: "The final will be on Sky Sports and featured heavily in the Rugby News Magazine.

"It will be great if a girl who comes through the Coventry heats could win the whole event and even better if it was actually someone from the city.

"Ikon and Diva are always full of stunners and I would urge them to contact Artimis and enter the event."

The Coventry heats will be held on 23 and 30 March, with SkyDome also being chosen to host the regional final a week later.

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