A woman from Redditch has fought off fierce competition to win a top award at a balloon-twisting event in Blackpool. 

Layla Glen, aged 45, took home an incredible second place at the Blackpool Balloon Bash which has been described as the UK's biggest balloon-twisting event. 

The balloon modeller was given a set of random balloons and had 30 minutes to make something creative using all the balloons in the bag. 

Ms Glen quickly decided to make a balloon version of Elvis which impressed the judges. 

Redditch Advertiser: Layla Glen has balloon modelled celebrities including Peter Andre Layla Glen has balloon modelled celebrities including Peter Andre (Image: Creativity)

She said: "It was really hard as I was up against amazing talent from the ballooning world. To take second place was a huge shock but it was such an incredible experience. 

"The event attracts people from all over the world including Texas so it was great to compete alongside my ballooning idols. I'm probably my worst critic so I really never imagined I would do this well in the competition." 

Ms Glen first started ballooning when she was 16 and got a job at Oakenshaw McDonald's. 

She revisited the craft after her husband bought her a balloon modelling diploma for her 40th birthday and has never looked back. 

She said: "I found it really easy to get back into it again and I completed the course in about five hours. I then joined a lot of balloon Facebook groups and started watching tutorials.

"The online groups have been such a big support to me. There is always someone willing to help offer advice on projects and we learn from one another. We are like one big family.

"I love making weird and wacky designs and I've done so many celebrities like Peter Andre and Bob Marley."

Redditch Advertiser: Layla Glen started twisting when she worked at McDonald's Layla Glen started twisting when she worked at McDonald's (Image: Creativity)

The talented balloon modeller and children's entertainer has now started her own business called Creativity which caters for parties and events. 

Her 17-year-old daughter, Macy, has even got involved with the trade and is faster at twisting a balloon dog. 

But the road to success hasn't been easy for Ms Glen who started twisting as a hobby whilst running a unit in Tardebigge that offered arts and crafts workshops and support for adults with learning disabilities. 

The unit sadly closed during lockdown which encouraged Ms Glen to twist as a full-time job. 

She said: "It has been really hard to get where I needed to be. We put our life savings into the unit so to lose it was heartbreaking. 

"We had to start the balloon business from scratch after lockdown so to see how far we've come means a lot to us. 

"I'm very proud of the business and I absolutely love what I do." 

Redditch Advertiser: She has also made a balloon version of Harry Styles She has also made a balloon version of Harry Styles (Image: Creativity)

The balloons can cost anything from £25 to £300 and are made with biodegradable materials without helium to help the environment. 

To find out more visit Creativity on Facebook at www.facebook.com/creativityUK29