The first international goldfish beauty pageant has taken place in China.

''We judge goldfish mainly by five criteria: breed, body shape, swimming gesture, colour, which is very important, and overall impression.''

More than 3,000 fishy friends from 14 countries took place at the International Goldfish Championships in Fuzhou as they aimed to be named the first ever World Goldfish Queen.

Ye Qichang, a member of the judging panel, said: ''We judge goldfish mainly by five criteria: breed, body shape, swimming gesture, colour, which is very important, and overall impression.''

One massive goldfish, weighing in at 1.75kg, impressed the panellists at the competition, which featured rows of fish lined up in bowls and judged across 12 categories including heaviest and longest.

Ye added: ''I have raised gold fish for some 40 or 50 years, and it is the first time I've seen such a big creature.''