MISS York Anastasia Smith has visited a York jewellers as she prepares to take part in the Miss England contest next week.

Anastasia, 20, of Norton, showed off an 18ct white gold £17,000 diamond solitaire ring – on offer at less than £8,500 – when she called in to Cavendish Jewellers, in Stonegate, who are headline sponsors of Miss York 2011.

Cavendish owner Mark Smith praised Anastasia as an ambassador for the city and representative of the business, and wished her well in the two-day national contest next Monday and Tuesday.

He said: “She is smart, sophisticated and extremely beautiful.”