Miss England is being asked to boycott the Miss World finals in Nigeria because of its poor human rights record.

Danielle Luan, a student at Oxford Brookes University, won the title of Miss England at a ceremony on Thursday.

A member of the European Parliament's women's rights committee is asking her to boycott Nigeria over the sentencing of an adulterous woman to death by stoning.

Amina Lawal, 30, is due to be stoned to death after giving birth outside marriage - her appeal was rejected by a Sharia court in August.

Anima Lawal faces stoning in Nigeria

Eleven contestants in the Miss World pageant, including those from Switzerland, Belgium, Norway and Kenya, have either withdrawn or are threatening to, in protest at the sentence.

Mary Honeyball, the Labour MEP for London and member of the women's rights committee said: "By refusing to take part Miss Luan will demonstrate the horror and disgust felt at the sentence to stone Anima Lawal to death for giving birth outside marriage.

"There can be no beauty in having a nursing mother executed, leaving her baby an orphan.

"We must send a clear signal to the Miss World organisers that for as long as Anima Lawal faces stoning, there can be no reason to party in Nigeria."

'Abandoning Amina'

However, Miss Laun says she plans to attend the event, in Abuja, central Nigeria, in November.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph she said: "I feel that if I abandon Nigeria it'll be like I'm abandoning Amina and her supporters.

"And so, instead, I intend to make a statement condemning such inhumane action and demand equal rights while I am on the stage at the contest.

"I am going there to support her."