A GIRL born with a cleft lip has used beauty pageants to raise £2,500 for a charity which has supported her throughout her life.

Five-year-old Ava Pattison has been on the North-East pageant scene for two-and-half years but has dedicated the last 12 months or so to funding for the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).

The youngster, from Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, marked her fundraising milestone by handing over her charity funds.

And to top it off, she has been selected to represent the North-East on the world stage after being crowned County Durham ambassador for Belle International Pageants.

Her mother, Emma Pattison, said: “This will be her biggest competition to date. "She’s so excited and I didn’t expect it at all.

"She loves beauty pageants - she makes friends and loves the social side of it and loves raising money for charity.”

Ava underwent an operation at 12 weeks old and despite ongoing treatment for her birth defect, which could continue into later life, she has not let it get in her way.

Mrs Pattison and her daughter decided last year to use the pageants and other fundraisers to raise money as a way of giving back.

“CLAPA have supported us with feeding bottles and are always there to give us information, and they aren’t government funded,” she added.

The pair gave a cheque to a CLAPA representative at a pageant organised by Mrs Pattison and Miss Teen Great Britain finalist Nicole-Jade Waterworth at Leeholme Welfare Hall on Sunday.

Now Ava has set her sights on raising funds for Ronald Macdonald House Alder Hey, the chosen charity of Belle International Pageants.

Ava is one of two people in her age category to be representing the North-East in its contest in Spain in April.

Also heading to the competition is mum and daughter duo Gemma Evans, 33, and Kristen Amelia Evans, ten.

The pair started competing together in March and say they have never looked back.

Ms Evans said: “We took the decision to do a national pageant where I won my category and Kristen came runner up in her category, meaning we won our places to compete internationally in Spain.

"It’s an amazing experience to go through together.”

Other North-East competitors are Alisha Lax, 12, of Byers Green, Caitlyn Morrison, 12, of Coundon, Quinn Lux Lownie, five, of Sunderland, Kaitlyn Ramsay, 14, of Barnard Castle, Catherine Tate, 22, of Houghton-le-Spring, Kirsty Wright, 19, of Crawcrook, and Courtney Johnson, 12, of Blyth.