Cumbria’s latest modelling superstar has been found – Strawberry the chestnut mare.

Beating hundreds of other entries, the Whitehaven horse has been chosen as the cover star for Cumbrian author Helen Haraldsen’s latest novel.

The Keswick School English teacher is due to release the third instalment in her Amber’s Pony Tales series in May.

Ahead of the release, Helen ran a competition to find a cover star, inviting submissions for a public vote.

Strawberry, owned by 11-year-old Myla Postlethwaite-Todd, both of the Wyndham Pony Club, won from a shortlist of 13 entries – drawn from hundreds of applications.

Helen has had a lifelong love of horses, being a member of the Wyndham Pony Club herself as a child.

Helen published her debut novel, Little Pearl, in May last year – the first in the series.

The second in the series, titled The Second Best Pony, was published in October.

Speaking before the poll closed on Friday, Helen said: “I ran the competition last year for The Second Best Pony as I thought it would be a good way to get people involved with the books.

“It far exceeded my expectations as nearly 1,500 people voted last year.

“The resulting book cover is absolutely beautiful.

“I decided to run the competition again this year to find a pony for the cover of the third book.”

Even though the age-old advice is not to judge a book by its cover, Helen added: “Of course we all do – and it’s vital that books have shelf appeal, so finding the right image for the cover is vital.”

The winning photograph of Strawberry was taken by local amateur photographer Neil Routledge.

Strawberry and Myla compete in a range of disciplines as part of the Wyndham club, including show jumping and cross country.