LONDON-based American Ria Lina was last night crowned the queen of comedy at the Jongleurs Club in Southampton.

Ria took the honours at the Southern Daily Echo-backed Stand & Deliver competition which aimed to find the best new comedy talent in Britain. The comedienne originally sent in a five minute audition tape to organisers and from that preview she was shortlisted for the eight-strong southern regional final in front more than 250 people at the comedy club in Above Bar.

It follows a day of auditions held in Southampton last month. Ria pipped Larry Bernstein to win the Southampton round.

She will now go forward to the final in Edinburgh in August bidding for the £1,000 first prize and a coveted Jongleurs contract.