Miss England surrenders crown after brawl

LONDON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Rachel Christie has given up her title of Miss England after being arrested for allegedly assaulting another beauty queen at a costume party.

Christie, a 21-year-old heptathlete, was arrested this week on suspicion of hitting the 24-year-old Miss Manchester, Sara Beverley Jones, in the face several times during a fight at a Manchester nightclub, Sky News said Friday.

Christie reportedly was wearing an angel costume, while Jones was wearing a cave-girl outfit at the time.

Sky News said the two got into a fight over David McIntosh, who appeared as Tornado on the TV competition series "Gladiators." McIntosh reportedly is Jones's ex-boyfriend and is now dating Christie.

"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," Miss England pageant organizers said in a statement. "Rachel will concentrate on clearing her name and focus on training for the 2012 Olympics until this case is resolved."

Sky News said Christie was released on bail and is expected back in court in January.

It is unclear who will replace her as Miss England.