A MISS England finalist is backing a road safety charity set up by the mother of a Taunton teenager killed by a speeding driver.

Teacher Emily Sanders, the current Miss Somerset, was so impressed by a talk grieving mum Jane Hofmeister gave her students that she determined to help raise the profile of the charity.

Emily was training as a history teacher at Heathfield School when Mrs Hofmeister told her class of the heartbreak caused by 13-year-old Amy’s death when she was hit by a car as she cycled along Blackbrook Way.

They will be at Taunton’s Castle Green tomorrow (Friday, July 31) promoting Think Amy and launching the ‘Oi’ campaign, with people encouraged to shout out at dangerous driving habits such as using a mobile while at the wheel or breaking the speed limit.

Emily, 22, said: “When Jane gave that talk it really resonated with me because I could teach dozens of Amys.

“As part of my role as Miss Somerset, I’m going to support certain national charities and I contacted Jane after her talk to see if I could also support Think Amy.

“As well as increasing awareness of Think Amy and raising money, I’ll be talking to people about the issues of dangerous driving at a National Citizenship Scheme event at Castle Green from 10am to 2pm on Friday.”

Emily, who takes up a teaching post in Exeter in September, is competing against 49 other women in the Miss England finals in Coventry on August 13 and 14.

She is planning to raise funds for Think Amy with a sponsored static bike ride in heels at Taunton’s Blackbrook Pavilion.

*To support Emily's bid to become Miss England, vote for her by texting MISSENGLAND15 to 63333.

Texts cost 50p plus your standard network rate. Terms and conditions are on the Miss England website.