Brave soldier takes over duties as Miss England

A soldier marched to the rescue yesterday after Miss England relinquished her crown following her arrest over an apparent nightclub brawl.

A statement from Miss England organisers said Rachel Christie, 21, had stepped down as she wanted to concentrate on clearing her name.

It was later announced that Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, who was first runner-up in the 2009 national contest, has become the new Miss England.

L/Cpl Hodge has been given leave from her duties as a soldier in the British Army and will represent England in the Miss World Final in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday December 12.

She was previously given an award by her unit in the Royal Anglian Regiment for her actions during a posting in Basra and has earned the nickname "Combat Barbie".

"We arrested an Iraqi suspect we wanted to question and were taking him back to the prison when we were involved in a road accident," she previously told the Daily Mail.

"Our vehicle rolled over and, when I came round, the Iraqi had escaped and had our weapons. I knew I had to do something or he would have shot us all dead. It was a real do-or-die moment.

"My training just kicked in and I managed to disarm him, get the weapons back and restrain him."

She has also previously worked with lingerie chain La Senza on its Face of the Armed Forces campaign.

Lisa Bond, marketing director of La Senza said: "Not only is she absolutely gorgeous but she is also an intelligent, inspiring young woman who does such an amazing job for her country."

Miss Christie became involved in a dispute with another beauty queen, Miss Manchester, aka Sara Beverley Jones, at a Manchester nightclub earlier this week.

Miss Jones, 24, was allegedly punched in the face after arguing about Tornado, a Gladiator who appears in the Sky1 series and whose real name is David McIntosh.

It is believed that Miss Jones, a club promoter and would-be actress, is an ex-girlfriend of Mr McIntosh and Miss Christie is his current partner.

Miss Christie was the first black woman to be crowned Miss England and is also a heptathlete who hopes to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.

Mr McIntosh, 22, from Altrincham, Cheshire, is a 15-stone former Royal Marine Commando who cites Rambo as his inspiration and says he would be a gorilla or polar bear if he was an animal.

A statement from Miss England organisers released yesterday said: "Due to the media attention following the allegations against her, Rachel Christie has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown.

"Rachel will concentrate on clearing her name and focus on training for the 2012 Olympics until this case is resolved.

"Rachel is very upset about the matter and the Miss England organiser Angie Beasley and Miss World Chairman Julia Morley will support Rachel and are behind Rachel with her Olympic training."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have previously confirmed they were called to the Mansion nightclub off Deansgate shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday.

A GMP spokesman said: "It is believed that, earlier that night, a 24-year-old woman got into an altercation with another woman in the club and was hit in the face several times.

"The victim was taken to Hope Hospital where she received treatment for superficial facial injuries. She has now been discharged."

Miss Christie was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed until January 2010.