THEY'RE known locally as the "Bitterne Babes", and now two young female curates at Bitterne Parish Church have jointly won the Daily Echo readers' competition to find the fittest cleric in Hampshire.

According to a national survey, the county's clergy were among the fittest and most health conscious across the UK, but we put that to the test and invited churchgoers to nominate their own vicar, priest-in-charge, or rector, in an attempt to find the "Fittest Rev".

We've had more than 20 nominations for cricket-loving curates and rugby-playing rectors, but after months of searching, the award for Hampshire's fittest clerics goes jointly to the Rev Libby Talbot, and the Rev Fiona de Robeck.

In second place comes cycling-mad the Rev Gary Philbrick, priest in charge of St Mary's, Swaythling, and in third place, but by no means least, comes the Rev John Owen, who uses his bike to ride to the four churches in the North Stoneham and Basset parish. He also walks his dog twice a day.

All clerics were put forward by members of their congregation.

Meg Cook of Brownlow Gardens in Southampton nominated this year's champions.

She told the Daily Echo: "Both Fiona and Libby are slim and trim. Libby runs regularly and cycles with her husband John.

"Fiona was on roller blades for the Christmas family service and she always uses the stairs when having retail therapy.

"Both girls recognise the importance of alcohol in moderation and Libby grows her own vegetables, and has organic vegetables delivered from Devon.

"All clerics have an extremely stressful job and easily get overworked. It's important for them to relax and have outside interests and keep watch on their health."

The Rev Fiona de Robeck, speaking on behalf of the winners, said: "I am very excited that all our hard work has paid off.

"People don't recognise that being a vicar is one of the toughest jobs, and many clergy I know are very stressed.

"Keeping fit is something I do to alleviate stress, and with my eating and sleeping well, and taking regular exercise, I know I do my job better."

The Rev William Challis, the curates' boss at Holy Saviour, Bitterne, said: "I am very impressed. This is a great honour for Bitterne."