TWO women from Warrington are heading to London to compete in a national fitness competition.

Amy Reading, from Great Sankey, and Kerry Jones, from Birchwood, will fight it out along with women from all over the world at the Miss Galaxy Universe finals in May.

The female fitness competition will see the pair compete in gruelling athletics events including running, burpees and box jumps before donning high heels for bikini and evening wear rounds.

Amy, aged 23, only gave birth to son Roman ten months ago and admits she is more nervous about having to walk across a stage in heels than compete in the fitness rounds.

"I was in a really bad relationship and was really overweight and decided I needed to push though it all and couldn't just sit on my bum all day," she said.

"I looked into body building-type contests but didn't have the confidence for that yet and then found Miss Galaxy Universe which also has a feminine empowerment side to it."

Kerry, aged 36, teaches aerobics and circuit classes in the evenings and believes she is in with a chance of winning as unlike other contestants, she is her own personal trainer.

“Being my own personal trainer is the main point I think that sets me apart from anybody else who has been on a weight loss journey or is taking part in Miss Galaxy Universe,” she said.

“Getting yourself out of bed at 4.30am every morning to train then go to work with a businesswoman head on before going straight back to the gym after work every single day can be pretty gruelling.

“The competition is basically Miss World meets GI Jane.

“I hope to win either the newcomer category, beach category, fitness champion or supreme champion (the overall winner) – or all four would amazing.”

Kerry also turned her lifestyle around after she grew to a size 18 after leaving school.

The prizes include £3,000, fitness modelling contracts, fitness magazine and supplement contracts, luxury spa weekends and the chance to be 'pin up' armed forces calendar girl.