Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Lesley Sawrey, from Great Urswick, was selected as the new Urswick Rushbearing Queen in 1997.

Lesley, a pupil at Ulverston Victoria High School who had been a lady-in-waiting at the historic ceremony in 1996, was due to wear her royal crown and special gown as she walked in procession around the village at the event.

She was taking over from the previous year's title holder, Sarah Jeory.

Lesley, a keen animal lover with many pets, including a lamb, guinea pig, rabbits, dogs, cats and horses, was delighted.

She said: "I'm really pleased and I'm looking forward to the big day."

Two other youngsters had been chosen to be Lesley's attendants and the search was on to find other local children to take part in the ceremony, including boys for sword-bearers.

The procession around the village was traditionally led by a local band with children in costume carrying rushes from Urswick Tarn and flowers.

On arrival at Urswick Church there was a service, which included the Rushbearer's Challenge and other special hymns.

Rushbearing in Urswick had been revived in 1905 and had continued ever since.

In September that year The Mail reported how the last of the season's five Rushbearing ceremonies in Cumbria was held at Urswick.

Rushbearing dates to mediaeval times and at St Mary and St Michael's church, Great Urswick, to the first church there in the 12th century.

Originally there was a practical reason for rushbearing as old rushes were swept from the church floor and new ones took their place. Those were the days when churches had earth floors.

When pews and carpets came along the tradition was abandoned at some churches, but at Great Urswick it was revived in the 19th century as a children's flower festival.

A church service followed a procession through the village, with members of the congregation carrying rushes.