OXFORD'S Miss England winner Eleanor Glynn conquered her fear of flying to travel from Paris to the Ukraine for the finals of the Miss Europe competition.

Miss Glynn, 20, from Sandford-on-Thames, vowed never to fly again after a rough journey back from the Miss World contest in Poland earlier this month.

She had been contemplating a 27-hour train journey across six countries to get from Paris to Kiev, where the Miss Europe contest is being staged.

But at the last minute, she was persuaded to get on the plane by other Miss Europe contestants and landed safely in Kiev on Saturday.

Her mother, Patricia, travelled with her to Paris on Eurostar, and spoke to Eleanor after she landed safely in the Ukrainian capital.

Mrs Glynn said: "Eleanor was thinking of taking the train and it would only have taken her 27 hours but in the end she was able to beat her fears and get on the plane.

"With Eleanor, it is more than just the usual nerves some people have with flying - she really is frightened - so she has been quite brave."

If Miss Glynn had opted to take the train instead, she would have covered 1,324 miles, travelling through six countries - England, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and the Ukraine.

Angie Beasley, Miss England organiser, said Miss Glynn sent her a text message to say that she had been "panicking" on the first hour of the flight.

"Eleanor hates flying, but she is going to have to get used to it if she wants a modelling career, because jobs can come in all over the world," said Ms Beasley.

"She has done really well to get on this flight and hopefully it will build her confidence.

"A job has come in for her this Christmas in Malaysia with top fashion designer Eric Way, and that really is a long-haul flight, so we'll have to see if she makes that one.

"We told her she didn't have to compete in Miss Europe after her experience on the way back from Poland but she insisted on doing it - she's very ambitious."

Ms Beasley said Miss Glynn would have an engagement closer to home when she returns from Kiev at the end of the month - an appearance at the Clothes Show in Birmingham in December.