Search on for mini England lookalikes

The search is on to find young lookalikes of the England football squad.

The competition is also open to youngsters who look like the wives and girlfriends of the team, which crashed out of Euro 2004 on Thursday.

Dead-ringers for Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, David Beckham (pictured), Steven Gerrard and the rest of the squad are all invited to apply.

Youngsters who bear a resemblance to the footballer’s glamorous wives and girlfriends, like Rooney’s fiancée Colleen McLoughlin, Sven Goran Eriksson’s feisty girlfriend Nancy Dell’Olio, and Posh Spice are also wanted.

A panel of judges will hold regional heats and choose the most convincing lookalikes, aged under 16, for the competition from sweet specialists Swizzels Matlow.

Potential lookalikes can log on to www.swizzels-matlow.com.

Communications director Andrew Matlow said: “Despite Thursday’s loss, the nation still applauds the England squad who gave it their all.

“Kids everywhere still count the likes of superstar Rooney and goal-scorer Owen, as well as their wives and girlfriend, as idols.”