A young couple are hoping to launch careers in modelling after winning a competition. They talk to Women's Editor Christen Pears.

LUCY Osborne and Matthew Wharton make a striking couple. In fact, they're the sort of couple who would make you look twice if you passed them on the street, and now they're set to attract even more attention.

Last month, The House, Yarm's designer clothes and lifestyle store, launched a competition to find a boy and girl to front all its advertising campaigns for the autumn/winter season.

The Search for the Face of The House attracted entries from across the North-East. The judges managed to whittle them down to just eight, who were invited to the final at The House.

Eighteen-year-old Lucy from Yarm, and Matthew, who is 19 and from Darlington, won the competition, impressing the judges with their good looks and relaxed manner.

"I'm so pleased we won," says Lucy. "I think it's going to be a great experience and I'm really looking forward to working with Matthew."

The couple have been together for about eight months. Matthew is in his second year studying surveying at Nottingham Trent University and Lucy joins him later this month, when she begins a fashion and textile management course.

Lucy has already done some modelling, taking part in charity fashion shows locally, but she only decided to enter the competition at the last minute.

"One of Matthew's friends had seen the competition advertised and suggested he enter and he encouraged me. It's not really the sort of thing I would normally do and we weren't actually going to do it until another of my friends gave us the entry forms. Obviously, I'm very glad we did."

The pair will be doing a fashion shoot this week for The House's new collection and their next assignment will be a fashion show in aid of the NSPCC at Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm, where they will be appearing in front of an audience of 800.

"It sounds a bit daunting but we're both really looking forward to it," says Matthew. "I hadn't really thought about modelling before but it's going to be fun."

As well as the chance to model for The House, Matthew and Lucy won £500 of clothes and a portfolio from Tyne Tees Models.