THE rain might have been falling but the heat was on as the final contestants of the Mr and Miss Warrington Guardian 2006 competition squared up on Sunday.

Stacey Mullins, aged 18 and 20-year-old Lee Payton emerged victorious in front a packed crowd and the Wire FM team at the Golden Square Seaside Sunday event.

The judges were faced with the difficult decision of choosing a winner from eight impressive finalists, but it was the Padgate girl and Bewsey boy who saw off stiff competition to clinch this year's title.

Look out for more on the winners and the event in this week's Warrington Guardian.