TWO young charity workers have been crowned the 2016 Halesowen Carnival king and queen.

Julian Southall and Rabiyah Rahman will be VIPS at the event on Saturday July 2 and ambassadors for the town over the next 12 months.

The pair, both aged 16 attend Leasowes High School and were crowned at a fundraising carnival event at Halesowen Members Club on Saturday.

Attendants will be Isabelle Young, aged 10, who goes to school in Rubery and Windsor High School pupil Melinda Griffin, aged 12.

Julian was nominated for his support and volunteer work with the carnival in 2015 and this year and Rabiyah was chosen for her charity work with British charity Interpal – the Palestinian Relief and Development Fund.

Melinda has raised funds for Down syndrome and cancer charities and given up her time to work for a leukaemia charity and Isabelle cheers up stroke victims by singing songs to them. Her younger cousin has leukaemia and she has also been supporting him.

Carnival vice chairman Karen Dunham said: “I am proud that young people give up their free time to support others and give back to the community.

“People nominating them and becoming our royalty is way of acknowledging their valuable contribution to society and we are

proud to have them representing us and the community. “

Halesowen Motor House sponsored the competition which attracted around a dozen entries.

Nominations for next year can be sent already and details can be found on the Halesowen Carnival Facebook page.