A TEENAGER whose sister tra-gically died was wearing a brave smile at the weekend after being crowned Evesham's Carnival Queen.

The sun shone down upon Samantha Tustin and the thousands of other revellers who crammed the streets to see the procession of floats as part of the town's festivities.

Waving to the crowds, Sam exhibited the grit and determination she showed in coping with the loss of her sister Pippa - who died weighing 17 stone - and Sam's subsequent campaign against the advertising of junk food.

Amanda Smith, chairman of the Vale of Evesham Ladies Circle, which chose the Carnival Queen, said someone else nominated the 17-year-old because they knew that she would not put herself forward.

"Samantha is a lovely girl," said Mrs Smith. "She is involved with the Vale of Evesham Christian Centre and even went out to Uganda earlier this year to help people out there."

Her younger sister, 15-year-old Pippa, who also belonged to the centre, died suddenly in her sleep at the family home in Fairfield Road in Evesham last October. Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said her size could have contributed to her death, though Sam said Pippa never over-indulged.

Exercising

Shop assistant Sam has lost weight herself since the tragedy through both eating healthily and exercising regularly.

In March this year she told the Evening News that there needed to be a complete overhaul of the manufacturing and marketing of junk food.

She said people needed to be better informed about the fat and calorie content of foods

And as part of her campaign she also wants to see sports stars stopped from promoting fast food, especially with obesity levels trebling in England during the last two decades.